Space qualification of integrated photonic circuits fabricated by ultrafast laser writing

Satellite-based optical quantum technologies represent a promising field for obtaining a worldwide quantum network. However, due to the limited size of satellites and the adverse conditions of a space environment, only compact and resistant devices can be used for this purpose. In this respect, we present for the first time the space qualification of integrated photonic circuits fabricated by Ultrafast Laser Writing. By inscribing different straight waveguides, directional couplers and Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and by exposing them to appropriate proton and gamma ray irradiations, we show that our integrated devices are suited for performing quantum experiments in a low Earth orbit.

[1]  M. Toyoshima,et al.  Ground-to-satellite laser communication experiments , 2008, IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine.

[2]  Hiroki Takesue,et al.  Entanglement distribution over 300 km of fiber. , 2013, Optics express.

[3]  Yongmei Huang,et al.  Satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution , 2017, Nature.

[4]  P. Lam,et al.  Radiation tolerance of two-dimensional material-based devices for space applications , 2018, Nature Communications.

[5]  Simone Atzeni,et al.  Integrated sources of entangled photons at telecom wavelength in femtosecond-laser-written circuits , 2017, 1710.09618.

[6]  M. Toyoshima,et al.  Satellite-to-ground quantum-limited communication using a 50-kg-class microsatellite , 2017, 1707.08154.

[7]  P. Lam,et al.  Compact Cavity-Enhanced Single-Photon Generation with Hexagonal Boron Nitride , 2019, ACS Photonics.

[8]  Denis Guilhot,et al.  Laser Technology in Photonic Applications for Space , 2019, Instruments.

[9]  Jeremy L O'Brien,et al.  Laser written waveguide photonic quantum circuits. , 2009, Optics express.

[10]  A. Eckstein,et al.  Direct bell states generation on a III-V semiconductor chip at room temperature , 2013, CLEO: 2013.

[11]  V. Quiring,et al.  A two-channel, spectrally degenerate polarization entangled source on chip , 2016, 1604.03430.

[12]  Alexander Ling,et al.  Silicon avalanche photodiode operation and lifetime analysis for small satellites. , 2013, Optics express.

[13]  P. Tuthill,et al.  Prospects for integrated photonics in space applications , 2011, 2011 International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC) and Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) Pacific Rim incorporating the Australasian Conference on Optics, Lasers and Spectroscopy and the Australian Conference on Optical Fibre Technology.

[14]  Nemanja Jovanovic,et al.  Low bend loss waveguides enable compact, efficient 3D photonic chips. , 2013, Optics express.

[15]  Donald M. Cornwell,et al.  NASA's optical communications program for 2017 and beyond , 2017, 2017 IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications (ICSOS).

[16]  G. Vallone,et al.  Integrated photonic quantum gates for polarization qubits , 2011, Nature communications.

[17]  J. O'Brien,et al.  Universal linear optics , 2015, Science.

[18]  Jeremy L O'Brien,et al.  Quantum walks of correlated photon pairs in two-dimensional waveguide arrays. , 2013, Physical review letters.

[19]  R. Firestone,et al.  WWW Table of Radioactive Isotopes , 1999 .

[20]  P. Lam,et al.  Room temperature single photon source using fiber-integrated hexagonal boron nitride , 2017 .

[21]  Rolf Meyer,et al.  The European Data Relay System, high speed laser based data links , 2014, 2014 7th Advanced Satellite Multimedia Systems Conference and the 13th Signal Processing for Space Communications Workshop (ASMS/SPSC).

[22]  Jian-Wei Pan,et al.  Ground-to-satellite quantum teleportation , 2017, Nature.

[23]  J. Ziegler,et al.  SRIM – The stopping and range of ions in matter (2010) , 2010 .

[24]  Simone Atzeni,et al.  Symmetric polarization-insensitive directional couplers fabricated by femtosecond laser writing. , 2018, Optics express.

[25]  N. Ganushkina,et al.  Locations of boundaries of outer and inner radiation belts as observed by Cluster and Double Star , 2010 .

[26]  F. Bussières,et al.  Secure Quantum Key Distribution over 421 km of Optical Fiber. , 2018, Physical review letters.

[27]  Jian-Wei Pan,et al.  Satellite-Relayed Intercontinental Quantum Network. , 2018, Physical review letters.