Technique - (25) Photon-number-resolving detection and squeezed-light quantum photonics

Type: Experimental

Description: Time-bin multiplexed and superconducting TES-based photon-number-resolving detection combined with squeezed vacuum and twin-photon states for Gaussian boson sampling and quantum sensing.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics | Institute for Functional Matter and Quantum Technologies (Barz Group) @ Stuttgart
Summary:

Barz builds integrated photonic quantum information processors - multi-photon entanglement, verified/blind quantum computing, and photonic networks - with direct relevance to photonic quantum metrology and distributed quantum sensing. In the broader landscape of NV-centre ensemble quantum sensing (DEER, nano-NMR, T1 relaxometry) operating near pT/sqrt(Hz) sensitivity, this work contributes photonic-network and multiphoton-metrology tools.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics / QET Labs | Clark Group (QET Labs Bristol) @ Bristol
Summary:

Alex Clark's group works at the interface of quantum science and technology, focusing on: (1) quantum imaging with undetected photons (mid-IR sensing at 3.28 Β΅m using CMOS cameras and entangled photons β€” QIUP technique); (2) single-molecule photon sources (molecules coupled to nanophotonic cavities); (3) quantum memory protocols (ORCA and ATS in atomic vapours for telecom-band photon storage); (4) integrated photonics for quantum sensing. Director of QET Labs; Work Package Leader in three UK Quantum Technology Hubs.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics / QET Labs | Rachel Clark Group (Bristol QET Labs) @ Bristol
Summary:

Rachel Clark's research focuses on integrated quantum photonic devices, squeezed light generation on-chip, and nonlinear photonics. Research: (1) on-chip squeezed light generation in silicon nitride and lithium niobate waveguide platforms; (2) continuous-variable quantum photonic circuits; (3) nonlinear photonics for quantum sensing. This group is directly relevant to quantum-enhanced sensing with squeezed light.

Department(s)/lab(s): School of Physics | Sydney Astroparticle and Dark Matter Group @ USyd
Summary:

Fruth is an experimentalist on LZ, the world-leading liquid-xenon dark matter experiment, and works on the detector-physics end: electron and single-photon backgrounds, calibration, and the characterisation of the anomalous low-energy events that currently limit sensitivity at the bottom of the energy spectrum. The programme is a pure exercise in pushing a detector's noise floor down until it is limited by irreducible physics (the neutrino fog). Positioned against the established body of NV-ensemble quantum sensing work β€” DEER, nanoscale NMR and T1 relaxometry protocols operating at pT/sqrt(Hz) field sensitivity β€” dark matter detection and NV-ensemble magnetometry are the same problem in different clothing β€” an exquisitely quiet detector, a signal below the background, and a systematics budget that determines everything β€” and the quantum-sensing community is increasingly supplying the readout technology (quantum-limited amplifiers, single-photon counters) that these experiments now need. Early-career PI.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics / Laboratoire Charles Fabry (IOGS/X) | Quantum Optics Group LCF (Grangier Lab) @ X
Summary:

Philippe Grangier is a pioneer of quantum optics and quantum information at the Laboratoire Charles Fabry (IOGS/Γ‰cole Polytechnique). Research: (1) foundations of quantum mechanics: single photon experiments, Bell tests, quantum non-demolition measurement; (2) quantum optics and quantum information β€” continuous variables, entanglement generation, quantum cryptography; (3) Rydberg atom experiments (in collaboration with Browaeys). Coordinator of SIRTEQ network (700+ quantum researchers in Île-de-France). Closely connected to Pasqal spinoff. Key for quantum sensing foundations.

Department(s)/lab(s): BioNanoscience / Kavli Institute of Nanoscience | Kristin Grußmayer Lab β€” Super-Resolution Microscopy @ TU Delft
Summary:

Kristin Grußmayer (Assistant Professor, BioNanoscience, 2021) develops super-resolution microscopy tools. Research: (1) SOFI (super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging) β€” camera-based super-resolution using photon statistics; (2) multi-plane super-resolution and quantitative phase imaging β€” combined modalities for 3D sub-diffraction imaging; (3) new fluorescence probe classes for SMLM; (4) AI-driven smart microscopy for automated phenotype detection. Marie Curie Fellow (EPFL, Lasser group). Group established 2021.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics / QET Labs | Harbord Group (Bristol QET Labs) @ Bristol
Summary:

Edmund Harbord researches quantum communications, solid-state quantum optics, and topological photonic structures. Research: (1) single-photon sources based on solid-state emitters (quantum dots, colour centres); (2) topological photonic crystal structures for robust quantum light propagation; (3) quantum communication protocols. Bridges photonics engineering with quantum networking.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics | Quantum Optics and Laser Science Group @ Imperial
Summary:

Kim's theoretical group works on quantum optics and quantum information, including generation and application of non-classical light (cat states, GKP states) for quantum metrology, continuous-variable quantum information and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics – QOLS / Light Community | Quantum Photonics Lab (Kolthammer) @ Imperial
Summary:

Kolthammer works on quantum photonics with an emphasis on nonclassical states of light and their applications to quantum information and sensing. Research highlights: (1) Gaussian Boson Sampling β€” first time-bin encoded GBS experiment using a loop-based interferometer with superconducting TES photon-number-resolving detectors, demonstrated enhancement in dense-subgraph search over classical methods (PRX 2022); (2) Squeezed state characterisation β€” nonclassicality certification using multiplexing layouts with superconducting TES detectors, sub-Poisson and sub-binomial statistics (PRA 2017); (3) Frequency-multiplexed photon pair sources β€” electro-optic frequency shifting for indistinguishable single-photon multiplexing without added multi-photon events; (4) Photonic quantum sensing β€” developing time-bin encoded platforms for quantum-enhanced sensing and quantum advantage demonstrations.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics / QET Labs | Laing Group (Bristol QET Labs) @ Bristol
Summary:

Anthony Laing's group pioneers photonic quantum computing and quantum simulation, having invented integrated quantum photonics. Research: (1) universal reconfigurable photonic quantum processors; (2) photonic quantum simulation for chemistry and materials science; (3) photonic quantum sensing using multi-photon interference on chip. Founded PsiQuantum co-founder and Quantum in the Summer school.