Visible Light Photonics for Atomic and Quantum Application

Distinguished Professor Daniel J. Blumenthal, University of California, Santa Barbara

Presented in-person in Goergen 101 and on Zoom

Zoom Information

Zoom:https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95276747247?pwd=WlBieEFIWUg2N0Y3bDFsa25KcFZCQT09
Meeting ID: 952 7674 7247
Passcode: 964579

Abstract

The world of precision atom-, molecular-, and quantum-based scientific experiments, instrumentation, and discoveries, such as atomic clocks and quantum gravitational wave sensors, have the potential to undergo a transformation to the chip-scale much like computers of the 1950s. This transformation will unleash a wealth of new applications such as quantum computing, quantum sensing, atomic clocks and frequency metrology. Today, the experimental infrastructure for these precision experiments is made up of over 80% sophisticated light lab-scale laser, optical, and control equipment, with many of the atomic transitions and wavelengths in the visible. At the forefront of moving these technologies to the chip-scale is a new age of visible light integrated photonics that can bring about the reduction in size, power, and cost of these systems and enable vast new portable applications. This talk will cover our latest results in the ultra-low loss silicon nitride integration platform and atomic and quantum components and subsystems including frequency stabilized lasers, spectroscopic interrogation, and integration of beamlines for atom cooling, trapping, state preparation, and interrogation. Work on PIC based cold atom rubidium magnetooptic traps (3D-PICMOT) and other ion and neutral atom photonics will be described. Integrating these systems to the chip- scale, through visible light photonics, will enable new, reliable, and portable applications including space-based experiments, portable and integrated atomic clocks, quantum and atomic timing and gravitational sensors, cold-molecule physics and discoveries, and global satellite navigation systems (GNSS).

Biography

Dr. Blumenthal is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UCSB, Director of the Terabit Optical Ethernet Center and heads the Optical Communications and Photonics Integration group. He is Co-Founder of Packet Photonics Inc. and Calient Networks. He holds 23 US patents and has published over 525 papers in the areas of optical communications, optical packet switching, ultra-low loss silicon nitride waveguides, integrated ultra-stable ultra-narrow linewidth lasers, visible light and integrated atom and quantum photonics, optical gyros, indium phosphide photonic integrated circuits, and microwave photonics. He is co-author of Tunable Laser Diodes and Related Optical Sources (New York: IEEE–Wiley, 2005).

Dr. Blumenthal is the 2020 recipient of the Optical Society C. E. K. Mees Medal, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), Fellow of the IEEE and Fellow of the Optica Society. He is recipient of a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award and an Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program Award. Blumenthal received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder (1993), the M.S.E.E. from Columbia University (1988) and the B.S.E.E from the University of Rochester (1981).