Quantum communication component, receiver and system

A method of fabricating a component, said method comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• forming a cladding layer on said substrate;
• forming a waveguide layer on said cladding layer;
• patterning said waveguide layer;
• and
• forming a cladding layer overlying said waveguide layer,
• wherein patterning said waveguide layer comprises:
• patterning an input section and a decoder section to form a plurality of waveguides,
• the input section comprising comprises n waveguides, where n is an integer of at least 2,
• the decoder section comprising m decoders, where m is an integer of at least 2, each decoder comprising at least one waveguide,
• the input section and the decoder section being provided on the said substrate such that the waveguides are continuous and integrated between the input section and the decoder section,
• the waveguides of the input section and the decoder section being arranged such that light pulses enter the waveguides of the decoder section via the waveguides of the input section and the m decoders operate in parallel.