Research interests and activities

My research largely falls into the areas of integrated quantum photonics, quantum metrology, quantum walks and quantum information processing.

Prior to integrated quantum photonics, quantum optics consisted of individually aligned optics (e.g. lenses, fibres, mirrors) bolted onto ~3-ton optical isolation tables. Highlights of my early contributions to this field include manipulating quantum states of light in a microchip[Nature Photonics, 3, 346 (2009)] and first implementing a compiled version of a quantum algorithm on chip [Science, 325, 1221, (2009)]. More recent highlights from my group include a fully reconfigurable optical two-qubit processor [Nature Photonics 12, 534 (2018)] and demonstrating integration of quantum photonics with micro-electronics [Nature Photonics 15, 11 (2021)].

In quantum metrology we explore harnessing the unique properties of quantum mechanics to achieve precision beyond the physical limits of current technology. Recent highlights from my group in this field include devising optimal measurement of optical phase and loss [Phys Rev Lett, 124, 140501 (2020)], sub shot noise- microscopy [Optics Express 27 30810 (2019)], using bright squeezed light for quantum-enhanced precision estimation of loss [Phys. Rev. Applied 16, 044031 (2021)] and with collaborators in Nottingham, a genetic algorithm to automate quantum sensor design [Quant. Sci. Tech. 4, 045012 (2019)].

My research contributions have been recognized most recently by award of a Philip Leverhulme Prize for Physics (2021).

Current postdocs and research fellows

Current PhD students

Recent publications

• N.Samantaray, J.C.F. Matthews and J.G Rarity, “Poissonian twin beam states and the effect of symmetrical photon subtraction in loss estimations”,  Phys. Rev. A. 104, 063718 (2021)
• J. Biele, et al. “Maximizing precision in saturation-limited absorption measurements”,  Phys. Rev. A 104, 053717 (2021)
• G.S. Atkinson et al. “Quantum Enhanced Precision Estimation of Transmission with Bright Squeezed Light”, Phys. Rev. Applied 16, 044031 (2021)
• X. Qiang et al. “Implementing graph-theoretic quantum algorithms on a silicon photonic quantum walk processor”, Science Advances, 7, 9 (2021)
• J.F. Tasker et al. “Silicon photonics interfaced with integrated electronics for 9 GHz measurement of squeezed light”,  Nature Photonics, 15, 11 - 15 (2021) Cover article (pictured right)
• E.J. Allen et al. “Approaching the quantum limit of precision in absorbance estimation using classical resources”, Phys. Rev. Research, 2, 033243 (2020)
• J. D. Mueller, N. Samantaray and J.C.F. Matthews, “A practical model of twin-beam experiments for sub-shot-noise absorption measurements”, Appl. Phys. Lett., 117, 034001 (2020)
• P.M. Birchall et al. “Quantum Optical Metrology of Correlated Phase and Loss”,  Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 140501 (2020)
• J.W. Thomas et al. “Widely-tunable mid-infrared ring cavity pump-enhanced OPO and application in photo-thermal interferometric trace ethane detection”, Optics Express, 28, 4, 4550 - 4562 (2020)