Public Funding for Photon Force Ltd

High resolution 3D maps are required for an increasing number of key subsea applications from installation and operation of offshore wind energy, asset decommissioning, environmental monitoring, and defence. Quantum photonic detection technologies can offer a step change in the resolution, accuracy, coverage, and speed of generation of these maps compared to existing acoustic or traditional imaging solutions. The approach proposed in this project differs from other techniques, as it relies on state-of-the-art single‑photon detection technologies, which allow for three-dimensional imaging with extremely low light level return, typically less than one photon per pixel (in the so-called "sparse-photon" regime) - that corresponds to high underwater attenuation. Single-photon detection is a quantum technology which has recently been exploited for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications. This project exploits recent advances funded under the UK National Quantum Technology Programme in underwater single-photon LiDAR measurements and CMOS silicon single‑photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector array development. One major advantage for underwater imaging; it is in the ideal spectral region for CMOS based SPAD detectors, which have made significant recent advances. This project is led by the marine industry, addressing current industry requirements and will utilise bespoke CMOS SPAD arrays and laser sources for subsea terrain mapping. It is expected that the project will lead to other underwater applications - this project will act as a pathfinder to more widespread deployment of single-photon imaging in the UK subsea industry. This project brings together key industrial and academic institutions with world-class backgrounds to collaboratively develop a commercially viable subsea mapping system based on the time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) imaging technique. The key objective is to deliver a complete mapping system based on novel 2D spatial single‑photon array detector technology, which can be deployed to a subsea vehicle and robustly generate 3D maps at high altitude above the sea floor.

bp is aiming to be a very different company by 2030, and our ambition is to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and to help the world get to net zero. A key component of becoming an integrated energy company surrounds low carbon electricity and energy, and within that, creating a distinct position in hydrogen, including aiming for a 10% market share in core markets. The **HYDRI** project, led by bp, aims to develop stand-off gas sensing devices critical to the safe roll-out of hydrogen as a widely used energy source in domestic, industrial, and transportation sectors. It harnesses the UK's world-leading expertise in single-photon detector arrays and quantum-sensor technology products. The HYDRI consortium comprises internationally recognised UK organisations at the forefront of the innovative and high technology sectors they serve, who are extremely well placed to deliver the state-of-the-art modules required for these devices. The consortium is led by a globally recognised end-user of the technology who will steer the performance of the project and carry out extensive testing in a range of high-value application scenarios. Finally, the project benefits from the expertise of the UK's leading academic and research technology organisation, who are performing critical system modelling, design, and integration activities throughout this exciting project.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) facilitates the secure sharing of encryption keys using quantum technology. These keys can encrypt data for transmission over conventional fibre links across any distance, but QKD itself is limited over fibre to around 150km with current technology. Beyond this, 'trusted nodes' are required, but at major risk of creating security vulnerabilities. A number of dark fibre QKD networks are being built, including in the UK, but all are subject to this constraint. QKD through free space is less sensitive to distance. Thus, satellites provide the means for distributing keys across very large distances between end users spread across countries or continents - they are a facilitator of global QKD networks. Satellite components in QKD networks are being planned or researched in a number of countries. A consortium led by Arqit aims to establish the world's first commercial QKD satellite constellation. The first satellite is being built under contract with the European Space Agency, with further satellite already being developed. This project aims to overcome important barriers to the adoption of QKD based infrastructure and services by government customers that will need accreditation. We will establish sector specific demonstrators of the service prior to satellite launch to support live end to end demonstrations, enabling customer integration to accelerate adoption; develop QKD optimised detectors to enhance performance of optical ground receivers whilst reducing cost; address operational security by performing practical side channel attacks on key elements of the system; and develop satellite specific QKD standards, supported by generating portable test equipment to support interoperability testing with other satellite QKD systems.

The QuEOD project brings together academic and industrial partners to break through the technology barriers for novel types of time-resolved SWIR detectors and pave the way forwards for UK sovereign supply and leadership. It will to develop a unique supply chain and engage in commercial exploitation for both CMT and GaSb detector technologies for next generation quantum technology applications. Industrial partners include Photon Force (project leader), Leonardo, ArQIT, IQE and QLM. Academic partners are Heriot Watt University, Cardiff University and Sheffield University, and RTO - Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult.

QT Assemble brings together a consortium of UK companies to develop highly-innovative assembly and integration processes for new markets in quantum technologies. Waveguide writing, nanoscale alignment and monolithic integration will be used to deliver new levels of performance in robust and reliable platforms. High-performance components and systems will be demonstrated including highly-integrated lases, photon sources, photon detectors and ultra-cold matter systems. New commercial opportunities have been identified that require reliable and robust operation in quantum sensing and quantum information processing markets.

This project will develop tapered-amplifiers and single-photon detection techniques in order to develop a Time-of-Flight underwater 3D imaging system. These systems use new single-photon counting detectors and timing techniques to enable imaging with low-light return levels and offer sub-centimeter depth resolution. The developed systems will offer order-of-magnitude improvements over competitive commercial systems and the developed components will have widespread applications.

Quantum technology will revolutionize science, computing, communication, medical diagnosis and treatment, security, defence, and consumer goods. Fundamentally, the development and proliferation of quantum technologies into everyday life depend on the availability of sensors capable of time-resolved recording of individual energy quanta. Photon Force has partnered with Heriot Watt University (Edinburgh) and Fraunhofer UK (Glasgow) to create a single-photon sensitive fibre-coupled light detector which can detect and time 0.5 billion individual photons per second with 55 picosecond time precision. The sensor could help physicists advance their research, firefighters see through smoke, improve the resolution and speed of medical imaging, or provide secure optical communication links.