Resonant metasurface-enabled quantum light sources for single-photon emission and entangled photon-pair generation
Nanophotonics (2025)
Quantum light sources are critical for developing scalable quantum networks aimed at distributed quantum computing, quantum teleportation and secure quantum communications. However, existing quantum light sources suffer from limited integrability, insufficient spectral and spatial tunability, and inefficiencies in achieving mass-produced, deterministic, on-demand quantum light generation. These limitations significantly hinder progress toward direct, on-chip integration with quantum processing units and detectors – an essential step toward scalable quantum networks.
Resonant metasurfaces enhance linear and nonlinear light-matter interactions, making them ideal for efficient on-chip quantum light generation and manipulation. In this paper, scientists describe recent advances in nanoscale quantum light sources and quantum photonic state manipulation enabled by resonant metasurfaces. They also provide an outlook on next-generation miniaturized quantum light sources achievable through materials innovations in quantum emitters, the co-design of resonant metasurfaces, and ultimately, the heterogeneous integration of emerging layered van der Waals materials with resonant metasurfaces.
The paper was authored by Feng Pan, Chih-Yi Chen, Priyaluj Bordoloi and Jennifer Dionne, who conducted their work at Stanford University.