Project: Single-photon sources for quantum technologies

Photons are particles of light well suited to applications such as quantum communication, quantum computing and quantum metrology. This is because they travel at the speed of light and interact weakly with their surroundings, while being easily manipulated. However, the lack of single photon sources is limiting their use. For example, quantum key distribution and quantum cryptography offer theoretically failsafe computer security but are vulnerable to attack without a true single photon source. The realisation of a practical quantum computer also requires near perfect single photon sources. This project will develop compact and efficient single photon sources and use them to improve measurement performance. The devices developed will also represent a breakthrough in the acceptance and uptake of single photon sources by end users and the standardisation of the components will help accelerate the development of quantum communications.

Acronym	EXL02 SIQUTE (Reference Number: EXL02)
Duration	01/06/2013 - 31/05/2016
Project Topic	Metrology
Project Results (after finalisation)	See Website
Website	visit project website
Network	EMRP
Call	EMRP Call 2012 - Industry, SI Broader Scope and Open Excellence

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt	Coordinator	Germany
2	Cesky Metrologicky Institut	Partner	Czech Republic
3	Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica	Partner	Italy
4	AS Metrosert	Partner	Estonia
5	Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy	Partner	Finland
6	NPL Management Limited	Partner	United Kingdom
7	The University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc.	Observer	United States
8	Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives		France
9	Danmarks Tekniske Universitet		Denmark
10	Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen - Nürnberg		Germany
11	Universität des Saarlandes		Germany