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School of Engineering

Compound Semiconductor Quantum Photonics Lab

Compound Semiconductor Quantum Photonics Lab

Our facilities are used for research on quantum light sources, two-dimensional semiconductors and photonic nanostructures.

We work closely with the Ser Cymru Advanced Materials and Devices group, the Institute for Compound Semiconductors and the Condensed Matter and Photonics group in the School of Physics and Astronomy to manufacture, test and model our devices.

Technical features

Since work started on the lab in 2018 our labs have been equipped with equipment for high resolution cryogenic magneto-spectroscopy, time-correlated single photon counting and quantum optics. Equipment includes:

  • Closed cycle magneto-cryostat (AttoDry1000) for optical measurements down to 4k in magnetic fields up to 9T.
  • A tuneable CW titanium-sapphire laser (M-squared Solstis).
  • A tuneable pulsed titanium-sapphire laser (Coherent Mira) capable of picosecond and femtosecond operation.
  • Spectrometers equipped with Silicon CCDs (Andor).
  • 8-channel superconducting single photon detector system enclosed in a closed-cycle cryocooler (IDQuantique ID281)
  • Time-correlated single photon counting electronics (IDQuantique ID900).
  • Arbitrary Waveform Generator capable of 14 Gs/s (Agilent M8190A)
  • Silicon Avalanche Photo-diodes for single photon detection in the visible and NIR (Excelitas SPCM)
  • Precision homemade exfoliation/transfer system 'Gwneuthurwr Haen' for micron-scale positioning (including a Nikon LV microscope).
  • Miscellaneous pulsed/CW/variable frequency lasers covering the visible spectrum.
  • Assorted homemade microscope imaging systems for room temperature and cryogenic measurements.

Practical applications

The team works to develop and test novel photonic quantum technologies based on semiconductors. We have strong relationships with technology companies such as National Physical Laboratory, Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology and Newport Wafer Fab., who collaborate on projects and co-sponsor students in our group.

Current key projects include the development of a bright and indistinguishable light source for optical quantum computing and simulation (EPSRC National Hub in Quantum Computing and Simulation), the manufacture of low cost electrically driven quantum light sources (EPSRC Fellowship) and the laser assisted creation of nanostructures in wide-band gap semiconductors (LasIonDef)

We are very grateful for equipment funding from the School of Engineering, EPSRC, HEFCW, The Royal Society and the EU.