Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Photonic Quantum Technologies with Strain-Free Artificial Atoms

Project description

Gallium arsenide quantum dots could help exploit photons in quantum science

Much as quantum computing faced challenges in moving beyond a handful of qubits, photon platforms to study quantum properties in isolation have faced difficulties in moving beyond three-photon systems. The EU-funded PQART project will address this with gallium arsenide quantum dots (GaAs QDs). QDs are typically semiconductor nanocrystals. In contrast to conventional QDs, GaAs QDs are artificial atoms free from mechanical strain. This means less noise and more similar optical properties amongst photons, critical requirements for a scalable platform. PQART will use photonic nanostructures to interface GaAs QDs on a photonic chip, enabling scalable experiments that can inspire future photonic quantum technologies.

Objective

Photons are an excellent platform to explore fundamental quantum properties without disturbance from the environment. They are also advantageous for applied topics such as quantum communication and simulation. The prerequisite for exploiting photons in quantum science is producing and manipulating high-quality streams of entangled photons in a scalable setting. Yet, the progress on this front has been slow primarily due to shortcomings in material properties. So far, only small states involving three photons have been demonstrated, and the quest of generating two-dimensional entanglement is untouched.
In this project, I will address the scalability problem employing an emerging class of artificial atoms named gallium arsenide quantum dots (GaAs QDs). Contrary to standard QDs, GaAs QDs are free from mechanical strain. As a result, GaAs QDs have lower noise, and different GaAs QDs have similar optical properties; these are critical requirements for a scalable platform. We will use photonic nanostructures to flexibly interface GaAs QDs on a photonic chip. Such a scalable platform will be an invaluable contribution to photonic quantum technologies. As an immediate outcome, we will use this platform to deliver three novel goals:
1. Highly entangled states of photons with two-dimensional connectivity
2. First experimental studies on the interaction between photons in a strongly non-linear medium
3. Pave the way towards quantum memories based on the collective states of nuclei in a QD
These achievements will be enabling contributions to quantum technologies. Two-dimensional clusters of entangled photons are indispensable resources with immediate applications in quantum communication and will open new prospects for photonic quantum simulation. Additionally, studying the interaction between photons in a strongly nonlinear medium will enable us to build number-resolving photon detectors, and in the longer term, may enable emulating many-body quantum systems on our platform.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2022-STG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 500 000,00
Address
NORREGADE 10
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark

See on map

Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 500 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0