Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: DMEA142-001

Description

To address the DMEAs need for an efficient single-photon detector for quantum cryptography communications, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Integrated Quantum Cryptography Receiver (IQCR), based on a chip-integrated, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible design. The proposed single-photon detector is based on a novel, more efficient design of a silicon avalanche photodiode (APD), and also includes supporting optoelectronic and photonic components to enable detector operation in a secure communications link. The innovation in the APD design and fully integrated implementation of the detector will enable the IQCR to improve the performance of quantum cryptography networks. As a result, the IQCR device will offer the quantum efficiency of single-photon detection >85%, operating range up to 200 km, and a photon counting rate up to 10 MHz, which directly address DMEA requirements. In Phase I, POC will develop and optimize the IQCR design through modeling and analysis of potential trade-offs in its operation (including cost trade-offs between available processes), and develop a program plan to develop the chip and select the initial application. In Phase II, we will fabricate and characterize a chip-integrated IQCR prototype, and prepare a plan for subsequent technology development toward a production-level device.