Optimal design for universal multiport interferometers
File(s)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Clements, William R
Humphreys, Peter C
Metcalf, Benjamin J
Kolthammer, W Steven
Walsmley, Ian A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Universal multiport interferometers, which can be programmed to implement any linear transformation between multiple channels, are emerging as a powerful tool for both classical and quantum photonics. These interferometers are typically composed of a regular mesh of beam splitters and phase shifters, allowing for straightforward fabrication using integrated photonic architectures and ready scalability. The current, standard design for universal multiport interferometers is based on work by Reck et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 58 (1994). We demonstrate a new design for universal multiport interferometers based on an alternative arrangement of beam splitters and phase shifters, which outperforms that by Reck et al. Our design requires half the optical depth of the Reck design and is significantly more robust to optical losses.
Date Issued
2016-12-20
Date Acceptance
2016-10-07
Citation
Optica, 2016, 3 (12), pp.1460-1465
ISSN
2334-2536
Publisher
Optical Society of America
Start Page
1460
End Page
1465
Journal / Book Title
Optica
Volume
3
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
Published by The Optical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000390793900027&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/K034480/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Optics
QUANTUM INTERFERENCE
OPTICAL SWITCH
CHIP
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-12-06