Abstract

The progress in quantum information theory and the advances in the manipulation and control of quantum systems promise the advent of an era where quantum technologies will significantly change the fields of communication, computation and sensors. Even though some of these new technologies have already been successfully implemented, such as quantum key distribution [1] and quantum clocks [2], to fully develop the potential of these technologies we need to find new compact, reliable and robust quantum systems. In particular, we need to be able to control and process the elusive and delicate features of quantum entangled states, which are at the core of quantum technologies. In this sense, quantum photonics arises as one mature technology where most of the quantum information building blocks have been demonstrated. Most of the achievements in quantum photonics are hindered by the same limitations as the classical processing of light: weak interactions with matter, which impede efficient nonlinear processes, and large devices with dimensions many times the wavelength of light. Plasmonic devices may hold the key to overcome these hurdles due to strong interaction with light, small volumes of interaction, and the possibility to engineer and fabricate suitable nanostructures to address particular tasks [3].

© 2017 IEEE