Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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QI: Fachverband Quanteninformation
QI 2: Implementations I
QI 2.6: Talk
Monday, March 9, 2026, 11:30–11:45, BEY/0245
A Free-Electron-Driven Quantum Light Source — •Armin Feist1,2, Guanhao Huang3,4, Germaine Arend1,2, Yujia Yang3,4, Jan-Wilke Henke1,2, Zheru Qiu3,4, Hao Jeng1,2, Arslan Sajid Raja3,4, Rudolf Haindl1,2, Rui Ning Wang3,4, Tobias J. Kippenberg3,4, and Claus Ropers1,2 — 1Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, DE — 24th Physical Institute, University of Göttingen, DE — 3Institute of Physics, EPFL, Lausanne, CH — 4Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, CH
Tailored nonclassical light is essential for photonic quantum technologies, yet generating complex optical states remains challenging. Inelastic free-electron scattering offers a promising new method for creating parametric and wavelength-tunable quantum light, particularly through coherent cathodoluminescence.
Here, we present a novel platform that efficiently couples free-electron beams to silicon nitride integrated photonics [1], enabling the generation of electron-photon pair states [2]. By post-selecting electrons with quantized energy loss, we can herald nonclassical single and multi-photon states [2,3]. This establishes a versatile source of tailored quantum light, potentially leading to a new class of hybrid quantum technology that combines electrons and photons.
[1] J.-W. Henke et al., Nature 600, 653 (2021) [2] A. Feist et al., Science 377, 777 (2022) [3] G. Arend et al., Nat. Phys. 21, 1855 (2024)
Keywords: free-electron quantum optics; quantum light source; single photon source; coherent cathodoluminescence; integrated photonics