Photarix manufactures semiconductor quantum‑ring single‑photon LEDs that emit true single photons at 1550 nm and are directly fiber‑pigtail compatible with standard telecom infrastructure. The chip‑scale devices are produced using CMOS‑compatible wafer processes and integrated driver electronics, providing low‑cost, plug‑and‑play quantum key distribution for telecom operators, enterprises, and government networks.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Current quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations rely on bulky, costly single‑photon sources that are not compatible with standard telecom fiber infrastructure. This limits the deployment of quantum‑secure links to niche research labs and prevents widespread adoption across existing communication networks. As a result, organizations seeking physics‑based data protection face high entry barriers and scalability challenges.
Solution
Photarix delivers semiconductor quantum‑ring single‑photon LEDs (QR‑SPLEDs) that generate true single photons at telecom wavelengths (C‑band) in a compact, chip‑scale form factor. The devices are fibre‑compatible and can be directly coupled to existing optical fiber plant, enabling seamless integration with conventional network equipment. Leveraging CMOS‑compatible epitaxial growth, the QR‑SPLEDs are manufactured using standard wafer‑scale processes, which drives down unit cost and supports high‑volume production. Integrated driver circuitry and low‑jitter timing electronics provide deterministic photon emission suitable for QKD protocols. By offering an affordable, scalable light source, Photarix makes quantum‑level security practical for commercial and governmental communication networks.
Target Audience
Primary customers are telecom operators and network equipment manufacturers that require quantum‑secure channels for backbone and metro links, as well as enterprises and government agencies deploying point‑to‑point QKD for critical data protection.
Features
- Quantum‑ring single‑photon LED architecture delivering sub‑Poissonian emission (g² < 0.1) at 1550 nm telecom band
- Fibre‑pigtail package with polarization‑maintaining coupling for plug‑and‑play deployment in existing DWDM systems
- CMOS‑compatible epitaxial growth and wafer‑level fabrication enabling high‑volume, low‑cost production
- Integrated high‑speed driver ASIC providing sub‑nanosecond pulse control and low timing jitter (< 30 ps)
- Temperature‑stabilized operation across 0 °C
- 70 °C, reducing the need for active cooling in field installations
- Low power consumption (< 100 mW per device) suitable for remote or edge locations
- Compliance with ITU‑G.652 fiber standards and support for standard optical connectors (LC/APC)
- Secure key generation interface with API hooks for direct integration into QKD software stacks