Electrically Reconfigurable NbOCl$_2$ Metasurface for Quantum Technologies

TL;DR

This paper introduces an electrically tunable, high-efficiency entangled photon-pair source based on nanostructured NbOCl$_2$ metasurfaces, suitable for compact quantum communication and sensing applications with in situ wavelength control.

Contribution

It demonstrates the first use of NbOCl$_2$ metasurfaces for polarization-entangled photon generation with enhanced efficiency and electrical tunability over a broad spectral range.

Findings

Achieved three orders of magnitude increase in photon-pair generation efficiency.

Demonstrated in situ electrical wavelength tuning over 250 nm.

Produced high-brightness entangled photon pairs with over 10,000 coincidences.

Abstract

Entangled photon-pair sources are foundational to advancing quantum technologies, including secure communication, quantum sensing, and imaging. For deployment in space-constrained environments such as satellite-based quantum networks or portable devices, compact, reconfigurable, and efficient entanglement sources are essential. Here, we present an electrically tunable entangled photon-pair source utilizing a nanostructured NbOCl$_2$ crystal, engineered for operation in the telecommunication C-band. The inherent non-centrosymmetric lattice symmetry of NbOCl$_2$ enables direct generation of polarization-entangled Bell states without the need for post-selection, leveraging its exceptional second-order nonlinear susceptibility, which surpasses conventional nonlinear materials. By nanopatterning NbOCl$_2$ into a high-quality-factor metasurface, we achieve three orders of magnitude enhancement in photon-pair generation efficiency via resonant excitation of bound states in the continuum resonance, which intensify light-matter interactions. Furthermore, we demonstrate in situ electrical tunability of the photon-pair emission wavelength over a 250 nm range from 1450 nm to 1700 nm by dynamically modulating surrounding liquid crystal layer. Remarkably, the decoupling of photon-pair generation rate and spectral tunability ensures high brightness, above 10,000 coincidences, under active tuning. The air stability and mechanical robustness of NbOCl$_2$ further enhance its practicality for real-world deployment. This work establishes NbOCl$_2$ as a superior material for scalable, on-chip quantum light sources, paving the way for integrated quantum communication systems, adaptive sensors, and portable quantum devices.