• Scanning electron Microscope Images of 3D micro-elements printed via two photon polymerization in our clean room facility. Left: Benchmark test of the well known "Benchy" famous in 3D-Printing Middle: Standing, three dimensional Ohm logo Right: Functional microscale standing biconvex lens
  • Measurement of an individual Nitrogen-Vacancy in diamond at our homebuilt confocal scanning microscope. The Inset shows a high resolution scan of one vacancy center with a pixel to pixel resolution of 50nm
  • Optical systems, designed to increase the photon yield of buried NV-centers in diamond. The designs account for dipole emission, spectral properties of the nv-center and efficiency when coupling into single mode fibers. The Designs are fabricated on top of a polished diamond surface, for the photonic integration of NV-centers
  • A Spatial-Light-Modulator (SLM) can be used to alter the wavefront of light. Here it is used to compensate aberrations at the diamond-air interface for the purpose of generating NV-Centers in diamond with a femtosecond laser
  • General Workflow for the photonic integration of NV-centers in diamond as qubits and single photon sources. First the optical systems are optimized using raytrace software. Then a mechanical holding structure is designed. Finally, the design is fabricated using two photon polymerisation in our clean room facility

Research Focus


The Optical Quantum Technologies Lab develops advanced optical and photonic technologies that enable applications in quantum computing, sensing, and secure communication. Core research areas include solid-state spin qubits and single-photon emitters (e.g., color centers in diamond), micro-optical components for efficient fluorescence collection and fiber coupling, as well as integrated photonics for neutral-atom quantum computing and photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

Teaching and Student Involvement


The group offers student projects aligned with its research activities and the development of experimental teaching platforms. These include laser and pulsed spectroscopy of diamond-based emitters, entangled photon generation, and quantum cryptography. The setups are integrated into hands-on courses in quantum optics.

Current Research Projects

Photonic integration of diamond color centers through additively manufactured micro-optics for enhanced photon collection and fiber interfacing 

Image: A. Bachmann (POF-AC)

Development of two-dimensional fiber arrays with tailored micro-lenses for neutral-atom quantum computing architectures 

Selective Laser Etched Fiber Array Holders

Investigation of materials and geometries for selectively laser-etched optical components and fiber array holders 

Photonic Interfaces for efficient chip coupling

Design of additively fabricated photonic interfaces for efficient chip-to-chip and chip-to-fiber coupling in integrated photonic systems (PICs)

Lead

PhD-Students

Master Students

Manuel Riedmann

riedmannma83411@th-nuernberg.de

Julian Staniewski

staniewskiju100422@th-nuernberg.de

Samuel Oeser

oesersa90962@th-nuernberg.de

Phillip Will

willph74864@th-nuernberg.de

Lorenzo Newman

newmanlo97305@th-nuernberg.de

The Nanoscribe Quantum X Align can be used to manufacture micro optical elements with reference to self defined marker structures
The Light Conversion Pharos femtosecond laser allows for nonlinear light-matter interaction which opens the way for sophisticated microstruturing of materials. One Example is the implementation of fiber bragg gratings inside of optical fibers

Devices in our Clean Room Facilities

We recently installed two devices in our newly renovated cleanroom:

3D printed Microstructures (click arrow to start slideshow)

2026

Optical Integration of single NV-centers for Quantum Computing and Sensing — •Lucas Kirchbach1, 2, Andreas Giese1, Julian Staniewski2, Manuel Riedmann2, Robert Bruss1, Bernd Braun1, and Andreas Stute1,2 — 1Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Faculty AMP, Nürnberg, Germany — 2Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Faculty EFI, Nürnberg, Germany - Talk DPG Spring Meeting 2026

 

Setup of a Confocal Fluorescence Microscope for the Detection and Characterization of Single NV Centers in Diamond — •Manuel Riedmann, Lucas Kirchbach, and Andreas Stute — Technische Hochschule Nürnberg - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2026

 

Femtosecond-Laser Written Waveguides and Surface Structures for High-Efficiency NV-Center Fluorescence Collection in Diamond — Andreas Giese1, Lucas Kirchbach1, Andreas Stute1, Stefan Nolte2, and •Bernd Braun1 — 1Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany — 2Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2026

 

Simulation-Based Approach for Programming a Spatial Light Modulator for Deterministic fs-Laser Writing of NV-Centers in Diamond — •Julian Staniewski1, Lucas Kirchbach1,2, Andreas Giese2, Bernd Braun2, and Andreas Stute1,2 — 1Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Precision Engineering, Information Technology, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, Keßlerplatz 12, 90489 Nürnberg — 2Faculty of Applied Mathematics, Physics and Humanities, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, Keßlerplatz 12, 90489 Nürnberg - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2026

 

Comparison of High-Precision PM-Fiber Alignment Methods for Integrated Photonic Devices — •Philipp Will1, Lucas Kirchbach1,2, Alexander Bachmann3, Rainer Engelbrecht1,3, and Andreas Stute1,2 — 1Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, faculty efi, Nuremberg, Germany — 2Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, faculty amp, Nuremberg, Germany — 3Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, Polymere Optical Fiber Application Center (POF-AC), Nuremberg, Germany - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2026

 

Integrated Optics for efficient Fluorescent collection for single NV centers — •Robert Bruss1, Lucas Kirchbach1,2, and Andreas Stute1,2 — 1Faculty AMP, Keßlerpl. 12, 90489 Nürnberg — 2Faculty EFI, Wassertorstr. 10, 90489 Nürnberg - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2026

 

2025

Optical design and tolerance analysis of additively manufactured optical interfaces for spin qubits — •Lucas Kirchbach and Andreas Stute — Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2025

 

2024

Simulations of Anti-Resonant Waveguiding In Hollow Core Fibers — •Lucas Kirchbach, Andreas Stute, Manfred Kottcke, and Bernd Braun — Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm - Poster DPG Spring Meeting 2024

 

2026

  1. Manufacturing and integration of 2D-fiber arrays of polarization-maintaining (PM) single-mode fibers
  2. Extension of a confocal fluorescence microscope for the characterization of laser-written single NV centers in diamond via intensity correlation g2() measurements
  3. Setup of an optical cavity as a frequency ruler for an atomic vapor laser spectroscopy lab course
  4. Simulation of RF-antenna geometries for experiments with NV centers in diamond
  5. Implementation of an optical setup for a long-range BB84 quantum key distribution (QKD) demonstrator
  6. Programming of an FPGA as pulse sequencer and ADC for experiments with NV-centers in diamond
  7. Determination of diamond lattice orientation via optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) in NV-centers
  8. Comparison and implementation of rotation measurement methods for an array of polarisation-maintaining fibres Simulations of microwave antennas for experiments with NV-centers in diamond
  9. Development of an acoustic optical modulator (AOM) driver
  10. Development of driver electronics for liquid crystal retardes (LCR) for an automated quantum key distribution (QKD) lab course

 

2025

  1. Optical simulation and tolerance analysis of additively manufactured micro-optical elements for flourescence collection of single NV-centers in diamond
  2. Development and characterization of liquid-crystal retarders (LCR) for the automated adjustment of measurement bases in quantum key distribution
  3. Layout of Tx and Rx modules for audio signal transmission via amplitude modulation of a diode laser
  4. Setting up a laboratory experiment to demonstrate and characterize a quantum random number generator (QRNG)
  5. Optical simulation and validation for programming a spatial light modulator (SLM) to correct optical aberrations in laser-material processing
  6. Setup of a confocal fluorescence microscope for the 3D-mapping of single NV-centers in diamond
  7. Development of a 3D-vector magnetic-field generator for lab-course experiments with NV-centers in diamond
  8. Implementation of an experimental control software for continuous (ODMR) and pulsed electron-spin resonance (ESR) experiments with NV-centers in diamond
  9. Development of a webcam for university laboratories via a Raspberry Pi camera module

 

2024

  1. Setup of a lab course for the demonstration of  the Bennet-Brassard-84 (BB84) quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol
  2. Development of an industrial quantum random number generator (QRNG) in collaboration with a company
  3. Setup of a lab course for the generation of single and entangled photons via spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC)
  4. Extension of a lab course to include polarization-based laser spectroscopy of Rubidium atomic vapor
  5. Development of a magnetic field generator via Helmholtz coils for laser-spectroscopy experiments
  6. Extension of a lab course about pulsed electron-spin resonance (ESR) experiments with NV-centers in diamond
  7. Optical setup, calibration and characterization of a spatial light modulator (SLM)

 

2023

  1. Setup of a lab course for laser spectroscopy of Rubidium atomic vapor 

 

Funding

Bestandteil der Fördermaßnahme Munich Quantum Valley, gefördert durch das Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst aus Mitteln der Hightech Agenda Bayern Plus