Researchers at NIST have developed a new chip-scale technology that can manipulate multiple laser beams simultaneously on a single chip. This technology combines integrated photonic circuits with optical metasurfaces to control the color, focus, direction, and polarization of multiple laser beams.
The new system replaces the need for bulky optical components typically found in laboratory settings, allowing for more compact and portable quantum devices. The technology has potential applications in miniature optical atomic clocks and future quantum computers.
While the laser light isn’t yet powerful enough to cool atoms to the ultra-low temperatures required for advanced atomic clocks, the technology represents a significant step forward in developing compact, reconfigurable optical systems for quantum technologies.
Keywords: Quantum, Metrology, Sensing, Laser, Photonics
