International exchange award: Developing a quantum model for spatially coherent light emission from solid-state emitters coupled to photonic nanostructures

Ahsan Nazir (far right) and colleagues during the visit to Singapore

Ahsan Nazir Head of Theoretical Physics at the University of Manchester was awarded an M4QN international exchange award to visit Ramón Paniagua-Domínguez at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR) in Singapore. The visit took place from 18th-24th January 2025.

Developing a quantum model for spatially coherent light emission from solid-state emitters coupled to photonic nanostructures

The visit allowed focused in-person collaborative discussions and knowledge exchange over the course of a week at A*STAR in Singapore. This allowed advancement of a joint project, which focuses on developing a quantum model for spatially coherent light emission from solid-state emitters coupled to photonic nanostructures. The aim is to identify conditions for anomalous light suppression (subradiance) and enhancement (superradiance), and for room-temperature quantum entanglement, both key for developing quantum technologies.

Benefits to the UK materials and quantum community

Ahsan writes “The project combines quantum optics and information expertise in Manchester with nanophotonic materials design in A*STAR Singapore, directly aligning with M4QN’s aim to bring together researchers in materials and quantum technologies to foster an interdisciplinary research community. In particular, we have found that metasurfaces can support resonant modes known as Bound States in the Continuum that are capable of facilitating long-range entanglement between quantum emitters to which they are coupled. Allied with their planar form factor, ease of fabrication, and scalability, this establishes all-dielectric metasurface platforms as a promising candidates for future quantum technology applications.”

Visit Outcomes

The visit had 3 main outcomes, firstly it allowed two collaborative papers to be finalised prior to submission to high-impact journals. Secondly, it allowed the teams to finalise a plan for the next research stage aiming to model many body systems coupled to photonic nanostructures. Finally, it allowed the team to bridge theory and experiment through knowledge exchange and new collaborations. A*STAR now has the expertise and facilities to fabricate metasurfaces coupled to small numbers of quantum emitters, allowing the possible experimental validation of the theory and guiding future quantum technological applications.