Sonia Buckley

My research involves building integrated photonic circuits that can be used as the building blocks for I/O, computation and quantum optics. In particular, I work on developing low-power waveguide-integrated light sources and single-photon detectors. We have recently developed cryogenic waveguide-integrated silicon LEDs in a scalable lithographic process, which combined with our WSi waveguide integrated superconducting single-photon detectors, are the basic element needed for superconducting opto-electronic neuromorphic computing. These LEDs are based on luminescent centers in Si, which emit light via a radiative recombination processes that only takes place at cryogenic temperatures. However, since the SNSPDs are also cryogenically operated, this is not a disadvantage for our applications. The internal quantum efficiency of these centers is unknown, and there is a plethora of such centers to choose from, with limited prior investigation. Ultimately, I aim to combine such cryogenic LEDs with integrated photonic and superconducting circuits for cryogenic high-performance computing applications, as well as fundamental studies on their properties, and on-chip quantum optics experiments. We are also working on developing wafer-bonded low-power III-V LEDs to Si waveguides for similar applications.