Research progress in quantum key distribution

Quantum key distribution(QKD)is a sophisticated method for securing information by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics.Its objective is to establish a confidential key between authorized partners who are connected via both a quantum channel and a classical authentication channel.This paper presents a comprehensive overview of QKD protocols,chip-based QKD systems,quantum light sources,quantum detectors,fiber-based QKD networks,space-based QKD systems,as well as the applications and prospects of QKD technology.

Temperature characterizations of silica asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer chip for quantum key distribution

Quantum key distribution(QKD)system based on passive silica planar lightwave circuit(PLC)asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers(AMZI)is characterized with thermal stability,low loss and sufficient integration scalability.However,waveguide stresses,both intrinsic and temperature-induced stresses,have significant impacts on the stable operation of the system.We have designed silica AMZI chips of 400 ps delay,with bend waveguides length equalized for both long and short arms to balance the stresses thereof.The temperature characteristics of the silica PLC AMZI chip are studied.The interference visibility at the single photon level is kept higher than 95%over a wide temperature range of 12℃.The delay time change is 0.321 ps within a temperature change of 40℃.The spectral shift is 0.0011 nm/0.1℃.Temperature-induced delay time and peak wavelength variations do not affect the interference visibility.The experiment results demonstrate the advantage of being tolerant to chip temperature fluctuations.

Two-step growth of β-Ga_(2)O_(3) on c-plane sapphire using MOCVD for solar-blind photodetector

In this work,a two-step metal organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD)method was applied for growingβ-Ga_(2)O_(3) film on c-plane sapphire.Optimized buffer layer growth temperature(T_(B))was found at 700℃ and theβ-Ga_(2)O_(3) film with full width at half maximum(FWHM)of 0.66°was achieved.A metal−semiconductor−metal(MSM)solar-blind photodetector(PD)was fabricated based on theβ-Ga_(2)O_(3) film.Ultrahigh responsivity of 1422 A/W@254 nm and photo-to-dark current ratio(PDCR)of 10^(6) at 10 V bias were obtained.The detectivity of 2.5×10^(15) Jones proved that the photodetector has outstanding performance in detecting weak signals.Moreover,the photodetector exhibited superior wavelength selectivity with rejection ratio(R_(250 nm)/R_(400 nm))of 105.These results indicate that the two-step method is a promising approach for preparation of high-qualityβ-Ga_(2)O_(3)films for high-performance solar-blind photodetectors.

Structured Illumination Chip Based on Integrated Optics

A compact structured illumination chip based on integrated optics is proposed and fabricated on a silicon-on- insulator platform. Based on the simulation of Caussian beam interference, we adopt a chirped diffraction grating to achieve a specific interference pattern. The experimental results match well with the simulations. The portability and flexibility of the structured illumination chip can be increased greatly through horizontal encapsulation. High levels of integration, compared with the conventional structured illumination approach, make this chip very compact, with a footprint of only around 1 mm2. The chip has no optical lenses and can be easily combined with a microfluidic system. These properties would make the chip very suitable for portable 3D scanner and compact super-resolution microscopy applications.

High-performance waveguide-integrated Ge/Si avalanche photodetector with small contact angle between selectively epitaxial growth Ge and Si layers

Step-coupler waveguide-integrated Ge/Si avalanche photodetector(APD) is based on the vertical multimode interference(MMI), enhancing light scattering towards the Ge active region and creating mirror images of optical modes close to the Ge layer. However, there are two ineluctable contact angels between selectively epitaxial growth Ge and Si layers and selectively epitaxial growth Si and Si substrate, which has an effect on the coupling efficiency and the absorption of the photodetector. Therefore, step-coupled Ge/Si avalanche photodetectors with different step lengths are designed and fabricated. It is found that responsivity of APDs with step-coupler-length of 3.0 μm is 0.51 A/W at-6 V, 21% higher than that of 1.5 μm, which matches well with simulation absorption. The multiplication gain factor is as high as 50, and the maximum gain-bandwidth product reaches up to 376 GHz.

InP Based PD/EAM Integrated Photonic Switch

新紧缩的三港口的 InP 基于 PD/EAM (photo-detector/electro-absorption 调节的人) 综合 photonic 开关被报导。设备与低输入在 2.5 Gbit/s 在 20 nm 上表明双向波长变换大约 20 mW 的光力量。

Wafer.Level Testable High-Speed Silicon Microring Modulator Integrated with Grating Couplers

一个晶片级的可试验的 silicon-on-insulator-based microring 调节的人以高调整速度，栅栏 couplers 作为 fiber-to-chip 接口到综合被表明。成本效率的制造在光结构的帮助下被认识到并且蚀刻深度图案。栅栏 couplers 和波导和一样的平板厚度有图案、蚀刻。最后，我们获得由晶片级的光、电的大小联合大约 60 nm 和 10 Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero 调整的带宽的 3-dB。[从作者抽象]

InP-based evanescently coupled high-responsivity photodiodes with extremely low dark current density integrated diluted waveguide at 1550 nm

In this paper, we have demonstrated a high performance waveguide photodiode integrated diluted waveguide serving as a fibre-to-waveguide coupler to achieve high coupling efficiency. High responsivity （〉 1 A/W）, high saturation power （〉 45 mA） in the static state and extremely low dark current density （0.04 pA/μm2） with 3 dB bandwidth at 13.4 GHz have been achieved.

Modeling and analysis of silicon-on-insulator elliptical microring resonators for future high-density integrated photonic circuits

We propose a novel resonator containing an elliptical microring based on a silicon-on-insulator platform. Simu- lations using the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method show that the novel elliptical microring can efficiently enhance the mode coupling between straight bus waveguides and resonator waveguides or between adjacent resonators while preserving relatively high intrinsic quality factors with large free spectral range. The proposed resonator would be an alternative choice for future high-density integrated photonic circuits.

Monolithically Integrated Transceiver with Novel Y-Branch by Bundle Integrated Waveguide for Fibre Optic Gyroscope

A novel Y-branch based monolithic transceiver with a superluminescent diode and a waveguide photodiode （Y-SDL-PD） is designed and fabricated by the method of bundle integrated waveguide （BIG） as the scheme for monolithic integration and angled Y-branch as the passive bi-directional waveguide. The simulations of BIG and Y-branches show low losses and improved far-field patterns, based on the beam propagation method （BPM）. The amplified spontaneous emission of the device is up to lOmW at 120mA with no threshold and saturation. Spectral characteristics of about 30nm width and less than 1dB modulation are achieved using the built-in anti- lasing ability of Y-branch. The beam divergence angles in horizontal and vertical directions are optimized to as small as 12°× 8°, resulting in good fibre coupling.

Quantum key distribution transmitter chip based on hybrid-integration of silica and lithium niobates

A quantum key distribution transmitter chip based on hybrid-integration of silica planar light-wave circuit(PLC)and lithium niobates(LN)modulator PLC is presented.The silica part consists of a tunable directional coupler and 400-ps delay line,and the LN part is made up of a Y-branch,with electro-optic modulators on both arms.The two parts are facet-coupled to form an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer.We successfully encode and decode four BB84 states at 156.25-MHz repetition rate.Fast phase-encoding of 0 orπis achieved,with interference fringe visibilities 78.53%and 82.68%for states|+〉and|-〉,respectively.With the aid of an extra off-chip LN intensity modulator,two time-bin states are prepared and the extinction ratios are 18.65 dB and 15.46 dB for states|0〉and|1〉,respectively.

Ship Weather Routing Based on Hybrid Genetic Algorithm Under Complicated Sea Conditions

Considering the effects of increased economic globalization and global warming,developing methods for reducing shipping costs and greenhouse gas emissions in ocean transportation has become crucial.Owing to its key role in modern navigation technology,ship weather routing is the research focus of several scholars in this field.This study presents a hybrid genetic algorithm for the design of an optimal ship route for safe transoceanic navigation under complicated sea conditions.On the basis of the basic genetic algorithm,simulated annealing algorithm is introduced to enhance its local search ability and avoid premature convergence,with the ship’s voyage time and fuel consumption as optimization goals.Then,a mathematical model of ship weather routing is developed based on the grid system.A measure of fitness calibration is proposed,which can change the selection pressure of the algorithm as the population evolves.In addition,a hybrid crossover operator is proposed to enhance the ability to find the optimal solution and accelerate the convergence speed of the algorithm.Finally,a multi-population technique is applied to improve the robustness of the algorithm using different evolutionary strategies.

Preface to Special Issue on Novel Semiconductor-biochemical Sensors

Since 2020,the global outbreak and continued evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought the concepts of nucleic acid,antigen-antibody,gene sequencing,and other biochemical testing into ordinary families.In this regard,novel semiconductor-biochemical sensors that convert biochemical information into monitorable electrical and optical signals according to specific rules have become increasingly important and indispensable.These sensors deeply fuse the technical advantages of semiconductors and biochemistry,integrating interdisciplinary subjects such as molecular biology,nanomaterials,microfluidics,artificial intelligence(AI),etc.With the advantages of fast speed,high sensitivity,high integration,easy mass manufacturing,the novel technologies are the"pioneer"of biomedical information acquisition and the"heart"of modern medical diagnostic equipment.Currently,the technologies are showing a spurt of development,with new products emerging,new functions being developed,and new application scenarios being expanded.The research hotspots cover a wide range,including immediate detection,non-invasive analysis,wearable devices,on-site monitoring,etc.This issue looks at the latest advances in the novel technologies for physiological dynamic monitoring of animals/plants and rapid detection of highly pathogenic pathogens,while covering applications in agriculture,fisheries,animal husbandry,biosecurity,and wearable medicine.

GaN based ultraviolet laser diodes

In the past few years,many groups have focused on the research and development of GaN-based ultraviolet laser diodes(UV LDs).Great progresses have been achieved even though many challenges exist.In this article,we analyze the challenges of developing GaN-based ultraviolet laser diodes,and the approaches to improve the performance of ultraviolet laser diode are reviewed.With these techniques,room temperature(RT)pulsed oscillation of AlGaN UVA(ultraviolet A)LD has been realized,with a lasing wavelength of 357.9 nm.Combining with the suppression of thermal effect,the high output power of 3.8 W UV LD with a lasing wavelength of 386.5 nm was also fabricated.

Synthesis and upconversion luminescence properties of NaYF_4:Yb^(3+)/Er^(3+) microspheres

Cubic NaYF4：Yb^3＋（20%）/Er^3＋（1%） microspheres were synthesized by EDTA-assisted hydrothermal method. Under 980 nm excitation, ultraviolet （^4G11/2→^4I15/2）, violet （^2H9/2→^4I15/2）, green （^4F7/2→^4I15/2, 2H11/2→^4I15/2, and ^4S3/2→^4I15/2）, and red （^4F9/2→^4I15/2） upconversion fluorescence were observed. The number of laser photons absorbed in one upconversion excitation process, n, was determined to be 3.89, 1.61, 2.55, and 1.09 for the ultraviolet, violet, green, and red emissions, respectively. Obviously, n=3.89 indicated that a four-photon process was involved in populating the ^4G11/2 state, and n=2.55 indicated that a three-photon process was involved in populating the ^4F7/2/^2H11/2/^4S3/2 levels. For the violet and red emissions, the population of the states ^2H9/2 and ^4F9/2 separately came from three-photon and two-photon processes. The decrease of n was well explained by the mechanism of competition between linear decay and upconversion processes for the depletion of the intermediate excited states.

Deposition of ZnO Films on Freestanding CVD Thick Diamond Films

For ZnO/diamond structured surface acoustic wave （SAW） filters, performance is sensitively dependent on the quality of the ZnO films. In this paper, we prepare highly-oriented and fine grained polycrystalline ZnO thin films with excellent surface smoothness on the smooth nucleation surfaces of freestanding CVD diamond films by metal organic chemical vapour deposition （MOCVD）. The properties of the ZnO films are characterized by x-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and photoluminescence （PL） spectrum. The influences of the deposition conditions on the quality of ZnO films are discussed briefly. ZnO/freestanding thick-diamond-film layered SAW devices with high response frequencies are expected to be developed.

Application of Improved Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm in Ship Weather Routing

This paper presents a novel intelligent and effective method based on an improved ant colony optimization(ACO)algorithm to solve the multi-objective ship weather routing optimization problem,considering the navigation safety,fuel consumption,and sailing time.Here the improvement of the ACO algorithm is mainly reflected in two aspects.First,to make the classical ACO algorithm more suitable for long-distance ship weather routing and plan a smoother route,the basic parameters of the algorithm are improved,and new control factors are introduced.Second,to improve the situation of too few Pareto non-dominated solutions generated by the algorithm for solving multi-objective problems,the related operations of crossover,recombination,and mutation in the genetic algorithm are introduced in the improved ACO algorithm.The final simulation results prove the effectiveness of the improved algorithm in solving multi-objective weather routing optimization problems.In addition,the black-box model method was used to study the ship fuel consumption during a voyage;the model was constructed based on an artificial neural network.The parameters of the neural network model were refined repeatedly through the historical navigation data of the test ship,and then the trained black-box model was used to predict the future fuel consumption of the test ship.Compared with other fuel consumption calculation methods,the black-box model method showed higher accuracy and applicability.

Differentiation of Positional Isomers of Propyl Alcohols Using Filament-Induced Fluorescence

We experimentally demonstrate the recognition of positional isomers of propyl alcohol vapor through nonlinear fluorescence induced by high-intensity femtosecond laser filaments in air. By measuring characteristic fluorescence of n-propyl and isopropyl alcohol vapors produced by femtosecond filament excitation, it is found that they show identical spectra, that is, those from molecular bands of CH, C2, Nit, OH and CN, while the relative intensities are different. By comparing the ratios of the CH and C2 signals, the two propyl alcohol isomers are differentiated. The different signal intensities are ascribed to different ionization potentials of the two isomer molecules, leading to different production efficiencies of fluorescing fragments.

Preparation and Ethanol Sensing Properties of ZnO Nanofibers

ZnO nanofibers with an average diameter of about 90 nm were prepared by an electrospinning method combined with a calcination process. The as-electrospun nanofibers before and after calcination were characterized by means of differential thermal analysis（DTA）, thermal gravimetric analysis（TGA）, X-ray diffraction（XRD） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The fibers after calcination at 600 °C belong to the hexagonal wurtzite structure. The sensor based on ZnO nanofibers exhibited excellent ethanol sensing properties at 206 °C such as good linear dependence in the low concentration（1―100 μL/L）, high response, and good selectivity. Fast response（less than 2 s） and recovery（about 16 s） were also observed in our investigations.

A Novel Ni/Ag/Pt Ohmic Contact to P-Type GaN for Flip-Chip Light-Emitting Diodes

We present a high-quality Ni/Ag/Pt Ohmic contact to p-type GaN. After the sample is annealed at 500℃ in 02 ambient for 3min, a specific contact resistance as low as 2.6 × 10^-5 Ωcm^2 and an optical reflectivity of 82% at 460 nm are obtained. The Auger electron spectroscopy analysis shows that the Pt layer can improve the surface morphology and thermal reliability of the annealed Ag-based electrode, Ag plays a key role in achieving good ohmic contact due to the outdiffusion of Ga into Ag forming Ga vacancies which increase the hole concentration, while the surface contamination of p-type GaN is reduced by Ni.