Rachel Clark

Research Interests and activities

My research interests stem from a background in semiconductor device development and characterisation, and considering how their performance impacts their utility for quantum optics and photonics experiments, and quantum technologies more broadly. My recent work has focussed on photonic integrated circuits as a platform for continuous-variable (CV) quantum optics experiments, and this is a research direction I hope to pursue – in particular, exploring ways to manufacture and push the capabilities of integrated quantum light detectors, as well as novel platforms for sources of CV quantum states. CV quantum integrated photonics offers exciting opportunities for technologies such as quantum sensing thanks to the possibility of fully room-temperature state generation and detection.

Integrated detectors

In quantum photonic technologies, the quality of state readout and measurement is governed by the performance of detectors that are able to discern a purely quantum mechanical signal. This requires stringent engineering to make our detectors efficient, fast and low noise. I am interested in how we model, test and develop better photodetectors for measuring quantum states of light such as a squeezed states or single photons, and investigating new device architectures that allow for novel characterisation techniques.

Integrated sources of CV states

CV quantum states such as squeezing can be generated on chip using nonlinear optical processes. I am interested in investigating novel material platforms beyond the silicon photonics family for generating squeezed light on chip to investigate potential platforms for efficient and scalable quantum sensors.