A/Prof François Ladouceur
in collaboration with Prof Steven Prower and Dr Shane Huntington at Melbourne University.

A critical component of such systems is an appropriately packaged, true source of single (i.e. individual) photons. Diamond has demonstrated superior capabilities for single photon production when doped with individual atoms of nitrogen. Currently we are in the process of optimizing this technology for incorporation directly into telecommunications devices.

Future development of telecommunications systems will require changes to the operational frequency and bandwidth of our sources. Therefore, in order for this technology to leverage Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure, it is necessary for us to adapt our nanocrystals to utilize dopants such as nickel, rather than nitrogen. The difference in material will allow us to produce optimised single photons for telecommunications. In addition, it is our intension to design and fabricate photonics structures out of diamond, offering a completely integrated system.