Chapter 4
In the Field of Quantum Technologies
Abstract Quantum technologies are an emerging field one can think of in two categories. The first generation, which used principles of quantum physics to deliver
technologies of the last century, and the second generation, which harnesses quantum phenomena to achieve novel device functionalities in the current century. In
general, various sophisticated tools for the control and manipulation of quantum
states are required and under development, fundamental concepts based on nonclassical behaviour or properties are used, or new capabilities are enabled which would
have been out of reach for classical devices. Indeed, the role of semiconductor photonics as well as quantum structures is pronounced. In this chapter, two aspects of
work in the field of quantum technologies are summarised. The first part will deal
with coherent light sources, ranging from semiconductor lasers to novel sources of
coherent light. The second part provides an introduction into quantum optics based
on quantum light generation and tailored light–matter coupling. Serving as a starting
point, here given examples shall motivate further reading in the dedicated literature
on these subjects.
4.1 Into the Quantum Realm
Entering the nonclassical world, quantum technologies have revealed themselves
as an emerging topic. In fact, (previously discussed) quantum structures have been
indispensable when addressing the needs in the domain of quantum technologies of
the second generation. In many ways, future technologies such as quantum information processing (e.g. quantum computation and communication) will heavily rely
on various sub-components such as quantum networks, quantum channels, quantum nodes, quantum memories, quantum light, quantum repeaters, quantum sensors,
quantum radars/LIDARs etc. The discussion of these novel technologies and their
subsystems—even in a superficial manner—clearly appears out of the scope of this
work. However, as the wider field of quantum optics and related subjects has attracted
considerable attention and increasingly becomes important in postgraduate courses,
seminars and lectures, the interested reader is referred to the expert literature (see
for instance [1–5] and references therein).
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Rahimi-Iman, Semiconductor Photonics of Nanomaterials and Quantum Structures,
Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences 196,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69352-7_4
99
In the Field of Quantum Technologies
Abstract Quantum technologies are an emerging field one can think of in two categories. The first generation, which used principles of quantum physics to deliver
technologies of the last century, and the second generation, which harnesses quantum phenomena to achieve novel device functionalities in the current century. In
general, various sophisticated tools for the control and manipulation of quantum
states are required and under development, fundamental concepts based on nonclassical behaviour or properties are used, or new capabilities are enabled which would
have been out of reach for classical devices. Indeed, the role of semiconductor photonics as well as quantum structures is pronounced. In this chapter, two aspects of
work in the field of quantum technologies are summarised. The first part will deal
with coherent light sources, ranging from semiconductor lasers to novel sources of
coherent light. The second part provides an introduction into quantum optics based
on quantum light generation and tailored light–matter coupling. Serving as a starting
point, here given examples shall motivate further reading in the dedicated literature
on these subjects.
4.1 Into the Quantum Realm
Entering the nonclassical world, quantum technologies have revealed themselves
as an emerging topic. In fact, (previously discussed) quantum structures have been
indispensable when addressing the needs in the domain of quantum technologies of
the second generation. In many ways, future technologies such as quantum information processing (e.g. quantum computation and communication) will heavily rely
on various sub-components such as quantum networks, quantum channels, quantum nodes, quantum memories, quantum light, quantum repeaters, quantum sensors,
quantum radars/LIDARs etc. The discussion of these novel technologies and their
subsystems—even in a superficial manner—clearly appears out of the scope of this
work. However, as the wider field of quantum optics and related subjects has attracted
considerable attention and increasingly becomes important in postgraduate courses,
seminars and lectures, the interested reader is referred to the expert literature (see
for instance [1–5] and references therein).
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Rahimi-Iman, Semiconductor Photonics of Nanomaterials and Quantum Structures,
Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences 196,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69352-7_4
99