Low-SWaP, Narrow-Linewidth, and Tunable Laser System for the Next Generation of Quantum Technologies

As quantum technologies transition from laboratories to the world, their successful deployment critically relies on the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of the laser sources fueling them. Due to the stringent optical requirements of most of these systems, they still predominantly use bulky lasers made of free-space components. With the emergence of high-performance, chip-scale lasers based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs) [1], practical quantum systems that are compact and scalable are now within reach. However, to successfully realize a PIC-based laser module that meets both optical and functional requirements, a system-level approach for co-designing the optical source (gain medium and PIC), the driver electronics, and the control software needs to be adopted.