Start Of The Project I-WAVE

Innovative waveguides for quantum optical applications for the efficient generation of entangled states

Could a tiny waveguide help make quantum technologies more compact and scalable?

The newly launched I-WAVE project at Friedrich Schiller University Jena aims to generate polarization-entangled photon pairs directly inside photonic waveguides.

Reliable sources of entangled photons are essential for photonic quantum technologies. Yet many existing sources rely on complex optical setups with numerous components, making them costly, energy-intensive and difficult to scale.

I-WAVE will explore how crystal symmetries and the intrinsic optical properties of waveguides can enable entanglement generation directly within the device, reducing the need for external optical components.

Running from October 2026 to September 2029, the project will develop, fabricate and characterize photonic structures, culminating in an experimental demonstrator.

The goal is to pave the way for compact, robust and energy-efficient photon sources for quantum computing, quantum networks and quantum-secure communication.

Fully funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), I-WAVE will be hosted by the Emerging Platforms for Integrated Photonics group at the Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena.