lasers for quantum photonics (original) (raw)

Definition: lasers which are specifically suitable for applications in quantum photonics

Categories: article belongs to category laser devices and laser physics laser devices and laser physics, article belongs to category quantum photonics quantum photonics

Related: quantum photonicssingle-photon sourcesphoton pair sourcesquantum light sources

Page views in 12 months: 526

DOI: 10.61835/o2n Cite the article: BibTex BibLaTex plain textHTML Link to this page! LinkedIn

Content quality and neutrality are maintained according to our editorial policy.

📦 For purchasing lasers for quantum photonics, use the RP Photonics Buyer's Guide — an expert-curated directory for finding all relevant suppliers, which also offers advanced purchasing assistance.

Contents

Introduction

Various types of lasers are needed for specific purposes in quantum photonics. Often they have to meet quite special requirements. Some examples are given in the following sections.

Application Areas

Lasers as Pump Sources for Quantum Light Sources

Single-photon sources, as needed e.g. in quantum communications, are generally not lasers (even when containing a light emitter in an optical resonator). However, some of them (e.g. based on quantum dots) require a pulsed laser (e.g. a picosecond laser) as a pump source. Such a laser must provide a short light pulse with low pulse energy, preferably with a reasonable efficiency, i.e., with very low power consumption, and high beam quality. Often it also needs to emit in a special wavelength range. Laser diodes are frequently used.

For the generation of entangled photon pairs in nonlinear crystal materials, one also requires a pump laser. The demands can be very different depending on the concrete case, for example concerning pulsed or continuous-wave operation, optical power or pulse energy, emission wavelength, etc. Frequently, a short emission wavelength, a narrow linewidth and a high beam quality are required.

Similarly, devices for generating squeezed states of light require pump lasers.

See the articles on single-photon sources and photon pair sources for details, or the more general article on quantum light sources.

Lasers for Manipulating and Readout of Quantum Bits

Quantum bits (qubits) are often manipulated (e.g. initialized) and/or read with laser pulses. Essential requirements for the laser are usually a special emission wavelength and a small linewidth, as well as precise control of the timing and energy of the pulses.

Lasers for Trapping and Cooling of Atoms and Ions

Lasers are used for optical traps, capturing multiple atoms or ions, or sometimes a single atom or ion. Such atoms or ions can be used to represent quantum states. This often requires continuous wave operation of the laser(s) at a specific wavelength and with a low linewidth. Depending on the circumstances, the required optical power can be considerable.

Spectroscopy in Quantum Sensing and Metrology

Ultra-stable lasers with very low laser noise, a narrow linewidth, and possibly some wavelength tuning are used for precision spectroscopy in quantum sensing devices, where photon entanglement, single photons, or squeezed states of light are used for extremely precise measurements.

In some cases, a frequency comb from a accurately stabilized mode-locked laser is required instead of a single-frequency output. There are several powerful methods of frequency comb spectroscopy.

Indirect Uses

Lasers can also find various indirect uses for quantum photonics, e.g. for the fabrication of photonic integrated circuits by ultrashort-pulse laser material processing

Typical Requirements

Some typical requirements for such lasers, as already mentioned above, are:

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ section was generated with AI based on the article content and has been reviewed by the article’s author (RP).

What are lasers used for in quantum photonics?

Lasers are used to pump quantum light sources, manipulate and read out quantum bits (qubits), trap and cool atoms or ions, and perform high-precision spectroscopy for quantum sensing and metrology.

What are the typical requirements for lasers in quantum applications?

Lasers in quantum photonics often need to have special emission wavelengths, a very narrow linewidth, low laser noise, and high beam quality. Precise control of pulse timing and energy is also frequently required.

How are lasers used to create single photons?

Single-photon sources, which are not lasers themselves, are often pumped with a pulsed laser. The laser pulse excites an emitter, such as a quantum dot, which then generates a single photon.

What role do lasers play for quantum bits (qubits)?

Laser pulses are commonly used to manipulate the state of qubits, for example, for their initialization. They are also used for the readout of the final qubit states.

Can lasers be used for generating entangled photons?

Yes, a pump laser is required for the generation of entangled photon pairs in nonlinear crystal materials. The specific laser requirements depend on the method used.

Suppliers

Sponsored content: The RP Photonics Buyer's Guide contains 13 suppliers for lasers for quantum photonics. Among them:

MPB Communications, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

MPBC has been a leading innovator in the design and development of single frequency lasers with novel atomic transition frequencies for applications in atomic physics, quantum mechanics and metrology. These lasers adhere to stringent requirements including narrow linewidth, low Intensity and phase noise, and the excellent wavelength stability necessary for these applications.

Novel wavelengths and unsurpassed output powers have been developed for world-renowned research centers and universities, which require innovative and leading-edge solutions.

HÃœBNER Photonics, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

HÃœBNER Photonics specializes in advanced laser systems designed for quantum technology applications, offering a range of high-performance lasers that meet the rigorous demands of quantum-sensor based experimental setups and other sophisticated uses:

For more detailed specifications and potential applications, please visit our website.

Innolume, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

Innolume’s gain-chips and Distributed Feedback (DFB) lasers, covering a broad 765–1360 nm wavelength range, are optimized for the stringent demands of quantum photonics, offering stable, narrow-linewidth, single-frequency emission, which is critical for high-fidelity quantum systems.

Gain chips feature deep anti-reflective coatings to suppress self-lasing, enabling precise wavelength control when integrated into external cavity setups such as Littrow or Littman/Metcalf designs — ideal for tunable quantum light sources.

DFB lasers provide fixed-wavelength, single-mode output with linewidths ~1 MHz, <0.1 nm tuning precision via current and temperature control, and side-mode suppression ratios up to 55 dB, ensuring exceptional spectral purity. Both device types are available with fiber-coupled options, including polarization-maintaining or single-mode fiber, 900 µm loose tube, and a variety of standard connectors.

Silentsys, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

The SLIM LINER — a high spectral purity laser source — is a single-frequency, ultra-narrow linewidth laser that is based on a Self-Adaptive Photonic Oscillator (SAPO) technology developed by the Institut Foton at Université de Rennes in France. A pump laser is optically locked onto a cavity using stimulated Brillouin scattering that offers an extremely narrow gain bandwidth, naturally favoring a high spectral purity, with a frequency noise as low as 0.0005 Hz²/Hz at 200 kHz Fourier frequency.

Covesion, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

Covesion manufactures a turn-key Locked Laser System at 1560 nm / 780 nm with spectrally pure output at powers of up to 1 W for Rb atom applications including quantum sensing, timing and computing.

Key features:

TOPTICA Photonics, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

TOPTICA's products provide an ultra-broad laser wavelength coverage: 190 nm — 0.1 THz (corresponding to 3 mm). They enable a big variety of demanding applications in quantum optics, spectroscopy, biophotonics, microscopy, test & measurement, as well as materials inspection.

all wavelengths. From 190 nm to 0.1 THz

Irisiome Solutions, supplier of lasers for quantum photonics

âš™ hardware

lasers for quantum photonics

The PEACHES series is a compact, turnkey laser for quantum technologies, offering femtosecond to picosecond pulses with GHz-range tunability. With support for arbitrary pulse sequences, external synchronization, and standard wavelengths like 920 nm or 1550 nm, it is an ideal source for advanced quantum experiments.

Questions and Comments from Users

Here you can submit questions and comments. As far as they get accepted by the author, they will appear above this paragraph together with the author’s answer. The author will decide on acceptance based on certain criteria. Essentially, the issue must be of sufficiently broad interest.

Please do not enter personal data here. (See also our privacy declaration.) If you wish to receive personal feedback or consultancy from the author, please contact him, e.g. via e-mail.

By submitting the information, you give your consent to the potential publication of your inputs on our website according to our rules. (If you later retract your consent, we will delete those inputs.) As your inputs are first reviewed by the author, they may be published with some delay.