How Integrated Quantum Photonics Could Transform Technology

When Prof. Carsten Schuck talks about quantum technology, he doesn’t start with abstract equations or distant theoretical ideas. Instead, he describes something surprisingly tangible: chips.

Not the kind in your phone, at least not yet, but silicon-based platforms capable of generating, manipulating and detecting individual particles of light. These tiny devices, he argues, could redefine how we communicate, sense the world and process information.

“I work mainly in the field of quantum technology,” Schuck explains, “where we try to realise a platform on which you can implement different flavours of quantum technology… using single photons on chips.”

His recent talk, given at the Cambridge Graphene Centre as part of the QAMSS lecture series, outlined how this vision is becoming reality. By integrating single-photon sources, nanophotonic circuits and ultra-sensitive detectors onto a single chip, researchers are building scalable systems that could outperform classical technologies in fundamental ways.

The key idea is to, instead of electrons, use light (individual photons) as carriers of quantum information. But making that work requires extraordinary control at the nanoscale.

Building quantum systems on a chip

At the heart of Schuck’s work is integration. Quantum technologies have long existed in isolated laboratory setups; bulky, fragile and difficult to scale. His approach aims to bring everything together.

The lecture described a roadmap where multiple components, quantum emitters, photonic circuits and superconducting detectors, are combined into a unified platform. Photonic crystal cavities, for example, enable highly efficient coupling between light sources and waveguides, while maintaining extremely high-quality factors.

These structures allow photons to be generated and guided with remarkable precision. Meanwhile, integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) can detect individual photons with high efficiency, low noise and timing precision down to tens of picoseconds.

The result is a fully functional quantum photonic circuit capable of generating, processing and measuring quantum states of light on a single chip.

But for Schuck, the technical achievement is only part of the story.

“We expect that you can exceed what is currently possible in a way that will never be achievable with classical technology,” he says.

That promise of going beyond classical limits is what defines what many call the “second quantum revolution.”

Emerging applications in communications and sensing

It’s easy to think of quantum technology as something distant or esoteric. Schuck pushes back against that idea.

He points to real-world applications already emerging from this research: secure communication systems based on quantum key distribution, ultra-sensitive sensors and advanced imaging techniques. His group’s work on integrated detectors, for instance, enables high-speed quantum communication systems operating at gigahertz clock rates, with secure key generation measured in megabits per second.

Even more striking are sensing applications. By exploiting the precise timing and sensitivity of photon detectors, these systems can achieve sub-millimetre ranging and even extract material information from reflected light signals, opening the door to new forms of remote sensing and imaging.

Schuck frames it in everyday terms:

“You can build a sensor that allows you to see things that you wouldn’t usually be able to see.”

That ability, to reveal previously invisible information, captures the transformative potential of quantum technologies. Just as classical electronics revolutionized communication and computing, integrated quantum photonics could enable entirely new capabilities.

A career driven by curiosity (and freedom)

Schuck’s path into this field wasn’t entirely planned. Early in his studies, he was drawn toward particle physics before shifting direction.

“I realized that this is very interesting, but not what I really want to do,” he recalls.

What followed was a pivotal moment: joining a research group in Munich during an unusually dynamic period. Surrounded by leading scientists and new ideas, he found himself immersed in a rapidly evolving field.

“It was super dynamic… and this completely got me hooked.”

That sense of excitement still shapes his work today. Despite a brief period in industry, he chose academia for a reason that goes beyond career progression or financial reward.

“This scientific freedom and just trying out things, even if they are crazy, that’s always something that has motivated me,” he says.

It’s a reminder that behind cutting-edge technology lies something deeply human: curiosity.

From research to real-world impact

While Schuck values academic freedom, he is equally committed to real-world applications. His work has already crossed that boundary.

He co-founded a startup that commercializes superconducting nanowire detectors – technology that originated in his research lab. Today, the company employs around 40 people.

“That’s a very real impact in society,” he says. “These employees… this money pays for their lives.”

For Schuck, this is one of the most meaningful outcomes of scientific work: not just advancing knowledge but creating tangible benefits.

“The idea that the things that we… do in the lab eventually lead to paying the salaries of 40 families, I think that’s a real impact.”

It’s a perspective that reframes innovation, not as an abstract pursuit, but as something deeply connected to society.

The hidden challenges of academic science

Despite his enthusiasm, Schuck is candid about the challenges of working in academia, particularly when it comes to career development.

“The career planning in academia is very challenging,” he says.

He describes a system that often lacks structure, leaving researchers to navigate uncertain paths with limited support. Even highly talented scientists can struggle, not due to lack of ability, but because of systemic issues.

“If you don’t have this long-term vision… you may exit this academic world, although you could have been a fantastic professor.”

This concern extends to his own role as a group leader. Supporting the careers of young researchers, he explains, is difficult within a system largely driven by short-term project funding rather than long-term development.

It’s a striking contrast: while quantum technologies aim for precision and control at the nanoscale, the human systems behind them can feel far less structured.

Bringing the quantum future closer

Looking ahead, Schuck sees a clear direction for his work: toward applications.

“I’ve always become more and more applied,” he says.

This doesn’t mean abandoning fundamental science, but rather focusing on technologies that can be deployed in the real world, devices that improve communication, sensing and computation.

His vision aligns with a broader trend in quantum research: moving from proof-of-concept experiments to scalable systems. Integrated photonics is a key part of that transition, offering a path to mass-producible quantum devices.

And while these technologies may still be in development, their trajectory is familiar. As Schuck points out, many everyday tools, especially those in our phones, originated from research that once seemed equally abstract.

“Everyone who has a phone in their hands… they use technology that started at some point like the stuff that we do now.”

What emerges from both the lecture and the interview is a coherent vision: quantum technology not as a distant frontier, but as an emerging discipline that combines science and engineering.

By integrating components onto chips, improving performance and scaling up production, researchers like Schuck are turning quantum ideas into practical systems.

The implications are profound, from unbreakable communication networks to sensors that can detect the imperceptible.

But perhaps the most compelling aspect is the mindset driving it all: a blend of curiosity, persistence and a willingness to pursue ideas that might seem, at first glance, a little “crazy.”

Because, as Schuck’s career shows, those ideas are often the ones that change the world.

About the interviewee

Carsten Schuck is a professor for experimental physics and the director of the Department for Quantum Technology at the University of Münster, where he leads the Integrated Quantum Technology group. He studied physics in Hamburg, Uppsala and Munich and obtained a PhD in applied physics from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in 2010 for work at The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), Spain. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University and work for ASML Research, he became an assistant professor in Münster in 2016 and full professor in 2021. His research activities are carried out at the Center for NanoTechnology (CeNTech) and the Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN), where he also acts as scientific director of the Münster Nanofabrication Facility (MNF). He is the co-founder of Pixel Photonics, a start-up company that commercialises superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.

By Dr Karen Steward