MPhys Physics with Study in Europe

Many implementations of important quantum technologies are dependent on the quantum nature of light. This course will give the student an appreciation of the physics of photons that enables them to be exploited in this way. It will describe how single photons suitable for quantum technology applications are generated and detected, and how entanglement can be created between them. It was also detail how these photons enable important quantum technology applications, including: quantum communications and encryption; quantum memory and quantum repeaters; coincidence detection and ghost imaging, and quantum sensing

Describe the physics underlying the use of photons for quantum technology, detailing the techniques used to generate and detect single photons, and how pairs of them can be entangled. It gives the learner an appreciation of how such photons can be used for applications such as quantum communications and encryption, quantum memory and quantum repeaters, coincidence detection, and quantum sensing. 

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:  

• Understand the properties of photons that make them useful for quantum technology 
• Describe the techniques that enable the generation, detection and characterisation of single photons
• Analyse how entangled photon pairs are produced by the interactions of light in nonlinear crystals and by biexciton emission
• Explain how entangled photons are characterised and used 

• Appreciate the basis of quantum technologies that rely on single photons and entangled photons

   

1. Introduction and recap of relevant wave optics and photonics: Waves and photons, Propagation through anisotropic crystals, Lasers and cavity modes (1 lecture):

2. Nonlinear optics (7 lectures): Electromagnetic formulation of the nonlinear interaction , Quantum mechanical treatment of parametric interactions, optical parametric amplifiers and spontaneous parametric down-conversion 

3. Single photon generation and detection (5 lectures): Single photon emission by quantum dots, Single photon emission via spontaneous parametric down-conversion, Detection – photomultiplier tubes, single photon avalanche diodes and single nano-wire detectors  

4. Coherent interactions between light and atomic systems (5 lectures): Superradiance, Photon echoes  

5. Squeezed states, and non-classical light (5 lectures): Poissonian statistics, Bunched and anti-bunched light – correlations, Squeezed states  

6. Entangled photon technologies (5 lectures): Exciton-Biexciton emission, Entangled photons by spontaneous parametric down-conversion, Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer, Hanbury Brown Twiss experiment  

7. Applications (7 lectures): Quantum communications and encryption, Quantum memory and quantum repeaters, Coincidence detection - Ghost imaging, Quantum sensing  

8. Revision (1 lecture) 

3 contact hours per week over 12 weeks comprising 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of example class. Online discussion forum. Online quizzes 

Study hours

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