A compact and open-source microcontroller-based rapid auto-alignment system.

Maintaining stable and precise alignment of a laser beam is crucial in many optical setups. In this work, we present a microcontroller-based rapid auto-alignment system that detects and corrects for drifts in a laser beam trajectory using a pair of two-dimensional duo-lateral position sensing detectors (PSDs) and a pair of mirror mounts with piezoelectric actuators. We develop hardware and software for interfacing with the PSDs and for controlling the motion of the piezoelectric mirror mounts.

Dynamics of analog logic-gate networks for machine learning.

We describe the continuous-time dynamics of networks implemented on Field Programable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). The networks can perform Boolean operations when the FPGA is in the clocked (digital) mode; however, we run the programed FPGA in the unclocked (analog) mode. Our motivation is to use these FPGA networks as ultrafast machine-learning processors, using the technique of reservoir computing.

Efficient single-spatial-mode periodically-poled KTiOPO4 waveguide source for high-dimensional entanglement-based quantum key distribution.

We demonstrate generation of high-purity photon pairs at 1560 nm in a single spatial mode from a periodically-poled KTiOPO4 (PPKTP) waveguide. With nearly lossless spectral filtering, the PPKTP waveguide source shows approximately 80 % single-mode fiber coupling efficiency and is well suited for high-dimensional time-energy entanglement-based quantum key distribution. Using high-count-rate self-differencing InGaAs single-photon avalanche photodiodes configured with either square or sinusoidal gating, we achieve > 1 Mbit/s raw key generation with 3 bits-per-photon encoding, and, to the best of our knowledge, the highest reported Franson quantum-interference visibility of 98.

Dual-color microchip electrophoresis with single-photon avalanche diodes: application to mutation detection.

A novel microchip electrophoresis instrument based on single-photon avalanche diodes was used for the molecular characterization of mutations in disease genes. The identification of the main mutation causing cystic fibrosis, named DeltaF508, by the Amplification Refractory Mutation System was used to validate the technology. In our implemented protocol the wild-type and mutant allele-specific primers are labeled with Cy5 and Cy5.

Microchips and single-photon avalanche diodes for DNA separation with high sensitivity.

Modern techniques for DNA and protein analysis and separation rely on measurements of LIF and face a trend toward employing progressively smaller samples. The currently employed detectors that provide the required ultrahigh sensitivity, e.g.