Paritosh Manurkar

High performance long wavelength infrared mega-pixel focal plane array based on type-II superlattices

A large format 1k×1k focal plane array (FPA) is realized using type-II superlattice photodiodes for long wavelength infrared detection. Material growth on a 3 in. GaSb substrate exhibits a 50% cutoff wavelength of 11 μm across the entire wafer. The FPA shows excellent imaging. Noise equivalent temperature differences of 23.6 mK at 81 K and 22.5 mK at 68 K are achieved with an integration time of 0.13 ms, a 300 K background and f/4 optics. We report a dark current density of 3.3×10−4 A cm−2 and differential resistance-area product at zero bias R0A of 166 Ω cm2 at 81 K, and 5.1×10−5 A cm−2 and 1286 Ω cm2, respectively, at 68 K. The quantum efficiency obtained is 78%.

Multidimensional mode-separable frequency conversion for high-speed quantum communication

Quantum frequency conversion (QFC) of photonic signals preserves quantum information while simultaneously changing the signal wavelength. A common application of QFC is to translate the wavelength of a signal compatible with the current fiber-optic infrastructure to a shorter wavelength more compatible with high quality single-photon detectors and optical memories. Recent work has investigated the use of QFC to manipulate and measure specific temporal modes (TMs) through tailoring of the pump pulses. Such a scheme holds promise for multidimensional quantum state manipulation that is both low loss and re-programmable on a fast time scale. We demonstrate the first QFC temporal mode sorting system in a four-dimensional Hilbert space, achieving a conversion efficiency and mode separability as high as 92% and 0.84, respectively. A 20-GHz pulse train is projected onto 6 different TMs, including superposition states, and mode separability with weak coherent signals is verified via photon counting. Such ultrafast high-dimensional photonic signals could enable long-distance quantum communication with high rates.

Quantum optical arbitrary waveform manipulation and measurement in real time

We describe a technique for dynamic quantum optical arbitrary-waveform generation and manipulation, which is capable of mode selectively operating on quantum signals without inducing significant loss or decoherence. It is built upon combining the developed tools of quantum frequency conversion and optical arbitrary waveform generation. Considering realistic parameters, we propose and analyze applications such as programmable reshaping of picosecond-scale temporal modes, selective frequency conversion of any one or superposition of those modes, and mode-resolved photon counting. We also report on experimental progress to distinguish two overlapping, orthogonal temporal modes, demonstrating over 8 dB extinction between picosecond-scale time-frequency modes, which agrees well with our theory. Our theoretical and experimental progress, as a whole, points to an enabling optical technique for various applications such as ultradense quantum coding, unity-efficiency cavity-atom quantum memories, and high-speed quantum computing.

Quantum enhancement of a coherent ladar receiver using phase-sensitive amplification

We demonstrate a balanced-homodyne LADAR receiver employing a phase-sensitive amplifier (PSA) to raise the effective photon detection efficiency (PDE) to nearly 100%. Since typical LADAR receivers suffer from losses in the receive optical train that routinely limit overall PDE to less than 50% thus degrading SNR, PSA can provide significant improvement through amplification with noise figure near 0 dB. Receiver inefficiencies arise from sub-unity quantum efficiency, array fill factors, signal-local oscillator mixing efficiency (in coherent receivers), etc. The quantum-enhanced LADAR receiver described herein is employed in target discrimination scenarios as well as in imaging applications. We present results showing the improvement in detection performance achieved with a PSA, and discuss the performance advantage when compared to the use of a phase-insensitive amplifier, which cannot amplify noiselessly.

The importance of band alignment in VLWIR type-II InAs/GaSb heterodiodes containing the M-structure barrier

The Type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice photon detector is an attractive alternative to HgCdTe photodiodes and QWIPS. The use of p+ - π - M - N+ heterodiode allows for greater flexibility in enhancing the device performance. The utilization of the Empirical Tight Binding method gives the band structure of the InAs/GaSb superlattice and the new M- structure (InAs/GaSb/AlSb/GaSb) superlattice allowing for the band alignment between the binary superlattice and the M- superlattice to be determined and see how it affects the optical performance. Then by modifying the doping level of the M- superlattice an optimal level can be determined to achieve high detectivity, by simultaneously improving both photo-response and reducing dark current for devices with cutoffs greater than 14.5 μm.

Programmable optical waveform reshaping on a picosecond timescale

We experimentally demonstrate the temporal reshaping of optical waveforms in the telecom wavelength band using the principle of quantum frequency conversion. The reshaped optical pulses do not undergo any wavelength translation. The interaction takes place in a nonlinear χ(2) waveguide using an appropriately designed pump pulse programmed via an optical waveform generator. We show the reshaping of a single-peak pulse into a double-peak pulse and vice versa. We also show that exponentially decaying pulses can be reshaped into a near Gaussian shape, and vice versa, which is a useful functionality for quantum communications.

Background limited performance of long wavelength infrared focal plane arrays fabricated from M-structure InAs/GaSb superlattices

The recent introduction of a M-structure design improved both the dark current and R0 A performances of type-II InAs-GaSb photodiodes. A focal plane array fabricated with this design was characterized at 81 K. The dark current of individual pixels was measured between 1.1 and 1.6 nA, 7 times lower than previous superlattice FPAs. This led to a higher dynamic range and longer integration times. The quantum efficiency of detectors without antireflective coating was 74%. The noise equivalent temperature difference reached 23 mK, limited only by the performance of the testing system and the read out integrated circuit. Background limited performances were demonstrated at 81 K for a 300 K background.