Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2005. / Supervisor: Wei-Ping Huang Includes bibliographical references (p. 241-260).

Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

In the rapidly advancing field of quantum technologies, integrated quantum photonics merges quantum mechanics with photonics, promising breakthroughs in communication, sensing, computing, and security. This doctoral thesis investigates the generation of correlated photons via spontaneous four-wave mixing (sFWM) on silicon-based platforms. Through a comparative analysis of various intramodal and intermodal sources, the research focuses on two main areas: applications in sensing within the 2 μm region and the development of sources and other integrated structures in the visible-near infrared region for quantum algorithms, such as variational quantum eigensolver and boson sampler. For sensing, the study enhances quantum ghost spectroscopy to enable efficient gas detection using non-degenerate intermodal silicon sFWM. In the context of quantum simulation, silicon-nitride-based integrated photonic structures were realized to generate and manipulate quantum light within a photonic integrated circuit. Additionally, a proof-of-concept implementation of a two-qubit SWAP test in silicon nitride material showcased significant potential in quantum machine learning.

<p dir="ltr">Quantum networking holds tremendous promise in transforming computation and communication. While matter-based systems excel as memory nodes, photons are ideal for long-distance transmission. Hence, a hybrid network combining both becomes essential. Moreover, developing entangled photon pair sources is critical for quantum repeaters and network implementation. The realization of these capabilities on integrated photonic circuits is vital for miniaturization and scalability. In this dissertation, we focus on two key aspects: establishing efficient photon-to-memory interfaces and generating and manipulating entangled states within integrated platforms.</p><p dir="ltr">One research direction involves developing an efficient interface between photons and matter-based memory, requiring spectral and temporal mode matching. Spectral compression is inevitable to realize low-loss interconnection between intrinsically narrowband memories and broadband photons. We proposed a novel approach using electro-optic time-varying cavities for spectral compression. Currently, we are working toward realizing this approach on the thin film lithium niobate platform.</p><p dir="ltr">In the other research focus, we encode quantum information as a coherent superposition of multiple optical frequencies; this approach is favorable due to its simplicity in generating high-dimensional entanglement and compatibility with fiber transmission. We successfully generated and reconstructed the density matrix of biphoton frequency combs from integrated silicon nitride microrings, achieving an 8x8 two-qudit dimensionality, the highest to date for frequency-bin qudits. Moreover, we employ Vernier electro-optic phase modulation methods to perform time-resolved measurements of biphoton correlation functions. Currently, we are exploring bidirectional pumping of microrings to generate indistinguishable entangled pairs in both directions, aiming to demonstrate key networking operations such as entanglement swapping and GHZ state generation in the frequency domain. We are also pursuing bidirectional pumping in a Sagnac configuration to generate simultaneous entanglement in both polarization and frequency, with the goal of deployment in a wavelength-multiplexed</p><p dir="ltr">network.</p>