Solutions Category: Free Space Solutions

Remote methane sensing using single-photon PPLN-waveguide upconversion lidar

Ruaridh Smith, Arthur C. Cardoso, Imogen Morland, Jack W. Thomas, Krish Pandiyan, Greg Blanchard-Emmerson, Corin Gawith, Sara Carver, Andrew Weld, Xiao Ai, John G. Rarity, and Loyd J. McKnight

Abstract

We report on a sensitive methane gas detection system using waveguide-based single-photon upconversion from 1651 nm to 798 nm wavelength for efficient detection. Single-photon light detection and ranging (LIDAR) techniques offer a route to high-sensitivity direct detection, which is important for environmental monitoring in industrial settings. We report on waveguide fabrication, testing, and overall system development using a fibre-pigtailed waveguide package. We achieve an internal upconversion efficiency of 86%. By combining this system with an active imaging module, we demonstrate methane gas sensing in an outdoor environment. We show this approach is a practical route to enhance the sensitivity of cost-effective environmental monitoring systems.

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AdvR joins Covesion in Strategic Expansion

We’re pleased to share that AdvR Inc., a recognised leader in non-linear optics and quantum photonics, has joined Hawthorn Photonics, alongside Covesion. With Covesion already a valued member of the group, this strategic integration expands our global footprint, deepens our specialist capabilities, and strengthens the breadth of innovative photonic solutions we deliver to customers around the world.

Both Covesion and AdvR have decades of experience pioneering their respective technologies.

AdvR brings a rich foundation of technical innovation in non-linear optics, using advanced materials such as potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP), lithium niobate (LN), magnesium-doped lithium niobate, and thin film lithium niobate (TFLN). The company’s diverse product range includes high-efficiency frequency converters, phase modulators, and sources of entangled photon pairs, supporting advanced research and commercial deployment across quantum technologies, atomic physics, and other sensing applications.

Covesion has established itself as a world leader in magnesium-doped, periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN) technology, offering cutting-edge products and exceptional technical support. Our solutions cater to a wide range of applications including lasers, scientific instrumentation, quantum technology, aerospace, and environmental sciences.

This is not simply a joining of companies; it is a purposeful alignment of vision, values, and technical depth. Together, the two organisations will serve a broader base of scientific and commercial customers with expanded capabilities and solutions engineered for the future. The combination of AdvR and Covesion significantly expands group capabilities across a broad range of non-linear optical materials, including MgO:PPLN, LN, TFLN, and KTP. The combined product portfolio spans both free-space and fiber-based devices, offering high-performance phase modulators, entangled photon-pair sources, and customized frequency conversion solutions.

This enriched offering supports a growing number of advanced applications across quantum sensing, timing, and computing, as well as spectroscopy, secure communications, lasers, and biomedical imaging, delivering flexible, scalable solutions from 350 nm to 6000 nm. The combination will enable our customers to access high-quality research and development, as well as standard off-the-shelf products and bespoke engineered systems. These merged capabilities also allow for deeper customization and co-development with our customers who require tailored photonics solutions.

AdvR’s established base in Bozeman, Montana significantly enhances the group’s presence in North America, enabling more responsive local support and closer proximity to key US customers. Covesion’s presence in the UK will enable the AdvR product range to gain greater access to European and Asian markets and will continue to drive technical excellence in MgO:PPLN crystal development, engineering support, and systems integration, creating a strong transatlantic platform for growth.

Both parties are committed to a smooth and thorough integration process, ensuring continuity for customers, suppliers, and research partners alike. All existing customer relationships, service agreements, and product offerings will be honoured, with expanded support and development capacity going forward.

This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for the non-linear optical crystals market, one that builds on the foundations of both companies and signals a step forward in capability, capacity, and collaboration.

“This alignment is a natural and strategic evolution of our shared mission to drive innovation in non-linear optics,” said Mike Day, President of Hawthorn Photonics. “AdvR’s team and technology are world-class, and we’re thrilled to be working with them as we expand our reach into new application areas, accelerate innovation, and deliver even more value to our customers. AdvR joining Hawthorn Photonics brings new opportunities for growth through increased manufacturing capacity and commercial reach, while preserving the team’s core scientific focus and commitment to technological advancement.”

Commenting on becoming part of Hawthorn Photonics, Phil Battle, CEO of AdvR, said: “This marks an exciting new chapter for AdvR and our employees, allowing us to broaden our product portfolio and strengthen our operations. By bringing together the very best scientific and engineering expertise, we are expanding our technical capabilities to offer our customers cutting-edge innovations that will continue to meet their ever-evolving and complex requirements. Becoming part of this group positions us to play a key role in shaping the future of photonics.”

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Precision Unlocked: Covesion Launches Frequency-Stabilised Laser System for Quantum Innovation

Covesion is excited to announce the launch of its Locked Laser System,  a turnkey solution built on our established fibre-coupled MgO:PPLN waveguide technology. Designed to support rubidium (Rb) atom applications, including quantum computing, sensing, and timing, the system delivers a highly stable, narrow-linewidth laser output at 780 nm, frequency-locked via an integrated Rb spectroscopic cell.

The Locked Laser System automatically provides a locked, offset frequency output, enabling users to define the frequency offset relative to the absolute reference. This ensures a spectrally pure, stable output ideal for precision applications. A DC seed offset is employed to maintain lock, offering a stronger lock and improved spectral quality. Importantly, the output beam is not part of the locking process, helping to maintain its optical purity during operation.

The system is also designed with flexibility in mind, offering a customisable platform suitable for a range of setups and end uses. An optional fast modulation feature is available, supporting experiments or systems that require rapid output variation.

Locked laser system key features:

  • Turnkey system with locked, offset frequency output
  • Based on Covesion’s fibre-coupled MgO:PPLN waveguide technology
  • Rb spectroscopic cell provides absolute frequency reference
  • Output beam excluded from the locking loop
  • DC seed offset enhances lock strength and spectral purity
  • User-selectable frequency offset from reference
  • Optional fast output modulation
  • Targeted for Rb-based quantum applications

Complementing our expanding range of photonic solutions for precision R&D and OEM deployment, the Locked Laser System is available to order now and is featured in the latest version of our product catalogue.

To learn more, visit the product page or contact our team for technical specifications and ordering details.

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Ferroelectric domain engineering of Lithium niobate

Jackson J. Chakkoria, Aditya Dubey, Arnan Mitchell and Andreas Boes

Abstract

Lithium niobate (LN) has remained at the forefront of academic research and industrial applications due to its rich material properties, which include second-order nonlinear optic, electro-optic, and piezoelectric properties. A further aspect of LN’s versatility stems from the ability to engineer ferroelectric domains with micro and even nano-scale precision in LN, which provides an additional degree of freedom to design acoustic and optical devices with improved performance and is only possible in a handful of other materials. In this review paper, we provide an overview of the domain engineering techniques developed for LN, their principles, and the typical domain size and pattern uniformity they provide, which is important for devices that require high-resolution domain patterns with good reproducibility. It also highlights each technique’s benefits, limitations, and adaptability for an application, along with possible improvements and future advancement prospects. Further, the review provides a brief overview of domain visualization methods, which is crucial to gain insights into domain quality/shape and explores the adaptability of the proposed domain engineering methodologies for the emerging thin-film lithium niobate on an insulator platform, which creates opportunities for developing the next generation of compact and scalable photonic integrated circuits and high frequency acoustic devices.

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Telecom source of tunable polarization-entanglement distribution up to 100-km for multi-user QKD over metro-area fiber-optic networks

 Vikash Kumar Yadav, Vivek Venkataraman, Joyee Ghosh

Abstract

The scalability of quantum communication networks requires compact, fiber-integrated, easy-to-deploy, and efficient wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) sources for multi-user secure key distribution. Here, we demonstrate such a multi-channel source of polarization-entangled photon pairs in the low-loss telecom C-band based on type-0 spontaneous parametric downconversion in a fiber-coupled Zn-indiffused MgO-doped periodically poled lithium-niobate (MgO:PPLN) ridge waveguide in the Sagnac configuration. The source can be easily tuned to generate the |Φ+⟩ or |Φ⟩ Bell state in 14 channel pairs of the International Telecommunication Union dense WDM (100-GHz spacing) grid around 1550-nm with a raw fidelity of ≳89%, with a maximum value of ≳94%. The raw concurrence is ≳0.8 for both Bell states in all channel pairs, and the observed S-parameter (⁠>2.56 ± 0.04 in all 14-channel pairs) shows a strong violation of CHSH-Bell’s inequality. The source’s suitability for long-distance entanglement transmission is also demonstrated by the successful transfer of entangled photons up to 100 km while maintaining fidelity >85% and quantum bit error rate <9%. The effect of polarization mode dispersion on entanglement distribution among remote users is also studied in detail. All these performance metrics are measured using conventional room-temperature semiconductor-based single-photon avalanche detectors, and these are the best reported with these detectors. Our highly flexible source can support up to ∼40 user pairs to communicate simultaneously, and it can be easily deployed into the current metro-area fiber-optic telecom infrastructure to form a complete WDM-based quantum communication network.

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Continuous-Wave 3.1 – 3.6 μm Difference-Frequency Generation of Dual Wavelength-Tunable Fiber Sources in PPMgLN-Based Rapid-Tuning Design

Junging Zhao, Fugiang Jia, Yutong Feng, Johan Nilsson

Abstract

Continuous-Wave 3.1 – 3.6 μm Difference-Frequency Generation of Dual Wavelength-Tunable Fiber Sources in PPMgLN-Based Rapid-Tuning Design Junqing Zhao, Fuqiang Jia, Yutong Feng, and Johan Nilsson Abstract—We report on a single-frequency continuous wave (CW) difference-frequency generation (DFG) source based on single-frequency wavelength-tunable polarization-maintaining ytterbium- and erbium-doped fiber master oscillator–power amplifiers (MOPAs), acting as the pump and signal source, respectively, and a 40-mm long periodically poled MgO-doped LiNbO3 (PPMgLN) crystal. Owing to the dual wavelength-tuning of the MOPAs, the generated idler light reaches a wavelength-tuning range of close to 500 nm, from ~3117.2 to ~3598.8 nm, only by tuning the launched pump and signal wavelengths from 1040 nm to 1084.6 nm and from 1545.2 nm to 1561.4 nm, respectively, without any change of temperature or grating period of the PPMgLN. Compared to temperature-based idler-wavelength-tuning, this method is potentially faster in speed. The maximum idler power exceeds 60 mW, which is the highest reported power for a wavelength-tunable single-frequency CW DFG source. A rapidly wideband-tunable DFG source with tens of milliwatts of output power in a narrow line can be a practical tool for mid-infrared molecular spectroscopy, detection, and sensing at high measurement rates.

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Synchronization of Dissipative Soliton Resonance Lasers via Cascaded Cross-Phase and Cross-Absorption Modulation for Mid-infrared Mode-locked Pulse Generation

Piotr Bojęś, Piotr Jaworski, and Karol Krzempek

Abstract

Cross-phase and cross-absorption modulation effect is used to synchronize the pulse repetition frequency and duration of two dissipative soliton resonance mode-locked lasers, which were subsequently used in to generate mid-infrared pulses via difference frequency generation.

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TECHNICAL GUIDE: PPLN Crystal Grating Design

Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate (PPLN) is a non-linear optical material widely used for efficient frequency conversion, such as second harmonic generation (SHG), sum frequency generation (SFG), difference frequency generation (DFG ) and optical parametric oscillation (OPO). The key to PPLN’s functionality is the use of quasi-phase matching (QPM), achieved through periodic poling of the ferroelectric domains within the lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystal.

Covesion’s proprietary poling process enables the fabrication of high quality, periodically poled gratings with a wide range of designs.

This guide provides an overview of PPLN crystal grating designs and their suitability for different applications.

Quasi-phase matching (QPM)

QPM compensates for phase mismatches in non-linear interactions by periodically inverting the non-linear coefficient d33 within the PPLN crystal. The phase-matching condition is given by[1]:

where:

  • kp, ks, ki are the wave vectors of the pump, signal, and idler waves,
  • ⋀ is the poling period,
  • ∆k is the phase mismatch.

Proper selection of the poling period ensures efficient energy transfer in the desired frequency conversion process. The required poling period varies with temperature, wavelength, and material dispersion, necessitating precise control of the grating fabrication.

Types of grating designs

Covesion are able to fabricate a wide variety of grating designs. These are available as off-the-shelf and custom solutions.

Single-period gratings

A single periodic structure used for narrowband phase matching, typically optimized for a specific wavelength and temperature.

Multi-period gratings

Integration of multiple, single period grating structures within the same crystal, enabling phase matching across a wide wavelength range

Chirped and aperiodic gratings

A continuously varying poling period designed for broadband phase matching and pulse compression applications. The design can be linear or aperiodic to optimize conversion across multiple wavelengths and fine control the output spectrum.

Fan-out gratings

A spatially varying poling period that allows phase matching across a range of wavelengths by translating the beam across the crystal’s width. This enables the crystal to be wavelength tuned at a fixed temperature. This is often used in OPO systems for tuneable mid-IR generation via a combination of temperature and spatial tuning.

Examples of PPLN Crystal Grating Designs

Summary

PPLN crystal grating design enables efficient frequency conversion through quasi-phase matching. By carefully selecting and optimizing the poling period, structure, and fabrication techniques, PPLN gratings can be tailored for a wide range of optical applications covering the entire lithium niobate transmission window from 390nm to 6µm. Contact us for more details of the standard and custom crystal designs that we offer.

References

  1. J. A. Armstrong, “Interactions between light waves in a nonlinear dielectric”, Phys. Rev. 127 (6), 1918 (1962)

Low-noise quantum frequency conversion with cavity enhancement of the converted mode

Shoichi Murakami, Toshiki Kobayashi, Shigehito Miki, Hirotaka Terai, Tsuyoshi Kodama, Tsuneaki Sawaya, Akihiko Ohtomo, Hideki Shimoi, Takashi Yamamoto, and Rikizo Ikuta

Abstract

Quantum frequency conversion (QFC), which converts the frequencies of photons while preserving the quantum state, is an essential technology for realizing the quantum internet and quantum interconnect. In the QFC from the visible to the telecom wavelengths around 1.5 µm, it is widely known that noise photons produced by the strong pump light used for the process contaminate the frequency-converted photon. It degrades the quality of the quantum property of the output photon. Conventional experiments have employed external narrowband frequency filters to eliminate the noise photons. In this study, we present a compact QFC device integrating the cavity structure only for the converted mode. While the cavity structure enhances both the desired efficiency and the noise photon generation, we show that the cavity-enhanced QFC followed by a relatively wide bandpass filter achieves a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) comparable to conventional systems using external narrowband filters. We experimentally demonstrate the cavity-enhanced QFC for a single photon, converting it from 780 nm to 1540 nm, and successfully observe the non-classical photon statistics after conversion.

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Nonlinear Frequency Conversion of Dissipative Soliton Resonance Pulses Using the Second Harmonic Generation Effect

Piotr Bojes, Piotr Jaworski and Karol Krzempek

Abstract

We present the first demonstration of using the second harmonic generation effect to upconvert dissipative soliton resonance laser pulses. We have designed and built two independent dissipative soliton resonance lasers, emitting rectangular shaped, nanosecond pulses in the 1.06 µm and 1.56 µm wavelength regime, respectively. Periodically poled lithium niobate crystals with appropriate periods were used as the nonlinear medium. Dissipative soliton resonance pulses with central wavelengths of 532 nm and 780 nm and pulse energies of 0.15 µJ and 0.02 µJ were generated as the result of the second harmonic generation effects. Conversion efficiencies of 30% and 4% were obtained for conversion of 1.06 µm
and 1.56 µm pulses, respectively.

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