Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PhotonFAB (Integrated photonic circuit fabrication by femtosecond laser writing for quantum information)
Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2023-09-30
platforms for integrated quantum photonics need complex and costly manufacturing processes (such as the production of masks for photolithography) that are designed for mass production but are not flexible and not good for prototyping. Quantum technologies, on the other hand, are not yet at the mass production stage and their development can benefit from tools that can ensure flexibility and rapid fabrication methods.
Through this ERC PoC we intend to leverage the femtosecond laser writing (FLW) microfabrication capabilities developed by the research team, to build a universal 3D integrated quantum photonic processor that will possess simultaneously unprecedented levels of quantum computational complexity and low optical losses.
The development of a powerful and reliable programmable photonic circuit will have an impact on all applications that require processing quantum information. We envisage the main impact onto quantum computing, where our programmable units can act as the processing core of the system. Nevertheless, information processing will be needed also in quantum communications and quantum sensing. Here, we expect smaller systems, but still needing the same level of accuracy that we are developing for quantum computing. Our programmable photonic processors are essential building blocks in the creation of a quantum photonic infrastructure for the acquisition, manipulation, and transmission of quantum information.