Modular linear optical circuits

Paolo L. Mennea, William R. Clements, Devin H. Smith, James C. Gates, Benjamin J. Metcalf, Rex H. S. Bannerman, Roel Burgwal, Jelmer J. Renema, W. Steven Kolthammer, Ian A. Walmsley, and Peter G. R. Smith

Journal
Optica
Abstract

Linear optical circuits that can provide reconfigurable interference between several optical modes are emerging as a powerful tool for both classical and quantum optics. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a modular architecture for building these circuits. Each module contains independent phase-controlled Mach–Zehnder interferometers, and several modules can be interfaced to build large reconfigurable interferometers. We demonstrate our approach by fabricating three modules in the form of ultraviolet-written silica-on-silicon chips. We characterize these chips, connect them to each other, and implement a wide range of linear optical transformations. Our work facilitates the development of large-scale linear optical circuits for quantum optics.

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