Grant: Canada Excellence Research Chairs

This Canada Excellence Research Chair in Quantum Nonlinear Optics aims to establish a world-class research program in Nanophotonics Methods for Quantum Nonlinear Optics at the University of Ottawa led by Dr. Robert Boyd, a pioneer and world leader in photonics, nanophotonics and quantum optics. The program will use nanotechnology to fabricate materials, structures and devices with properties specifically tailored to important technological applications. The program will focus on five interrelated topics: 1) Slow-light: Using nano-structured materials, it is possible to slow the speed of light to that of a bicycle thus enabling novel structures and devices for use in telecommunications, laser radar and other applications; 2) Fabrication of photonic crystals used in the construction of photonic devices including slow-light devices; 3) Nanostructures for photonics: Nanostructures will be developed and optimized to enhance light-matter interactions for applications in efficient solar energy conversion, quantum information science and other areas; 4) Imaging with a single photon: This work seeks to answer ?How much information can be impressed onto a single photon.? Applications include surveillance at minimum illumination levels and the secure transfer of image information; 5) Quantum communication using Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) states of light: This involves impressing quantum information onto the OAM states of a single photon. This can facilitate secure communications at increased information transfer rates. This program lies at the interface between science and engineering. It has important implications in fields as diverse as communications technology, solar energy conversion and biomedical imaging, all of which will be hugely important in the coming years. This Canada Excellence Research Chair in Quantum Nonlinear Optics creates the sustainable intellectual and technological capacity needed to position the University of Ottawa and Canada as amongst the very best optics and photonics research centres in the world.