Inaugural lecture and reception: Leonardo Midolo

Integrated photonic quantum technologies on Gallium Arsenide

In this lecture, I will illustrate the role and the potential of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) in the development of photonic quantum technologies from the perspective of nanofabrication and device integration. GaAs is a key material for opto-electronics, which over the past 20 years acquired a central role in the fabrication of deterministic single-photon sources based on quantum dots. The quality of these sources has matured to the point that real-world applications, such as quantum key distribution and photonic quantum simulation, are now within reach. It is therefore interesting to explore what GaAs has to offer beyond single-photon generation, e.g., towards routing and controlling single photons on chip, as well as its main limitations. Finally, I will discuss the recent progress in combining GaAs with other photonic materials and the opportunities offered by novel heterogeneous platforms.