Silicon quantum photonics with single Erbium ions
The ability to distribute quantum entanglement over long distances is a vital ingredient for quantum technologies. Single atoms and atom-like defects in solids are ideal quantum light sources and quantum memories to store entanglement, but to date no such systems have been developed at the technologically crucial wavelength of 1.5 µm, for compatibility with low-loss propagation in optical fibers and silicon photonic integrated circuits. We recently demonstrated the first interface between silicon photonics and single erbium ion (Er3+) dopants in a solid-state host, opening the door to scalable quantum photonic circuits. Additionally, we have demonstrated deep-subwavelength optical addressing of these impurities, which is promising for creating and manipulating dense, strongly-interacting spin systems. If time permits, I will discuss recent results on a second effort to create strongly-interacting arrays of laser-cooled ytterbium Rydberg atoms in optical tweezers.