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On-chip integration of quantum electronics and photonics

Project description

Breakthrough optoelectronics platform could create light-emitting silicon

Silicon photonics technology allows photonic components to be integrated into a tiny chip. The technology promises greater energy efficiency and lightning-speed processing but comes with a major roadblock: conventional cubic silicon has an indirect band gap, which renders it optically inactive. Unless germanium is added to silicon, in a fully new hexagonal crystal structure, silicon is not good at dealing with light. To overcome this issue, the EU-funded ONCHIPS project aims to build hexagonal germanium-silicon heterostructures for quantum technology applications and realise spin qubits in quantum dots. Furthermore, researchers will build single-photon detectors for light wavelengths exceeding 2 mm. The ONCHIPS novel platform interfacing individual spin qubits and photons could drastically enhance quantum system scalability.

Objective

A major roadblock for silicon-based optoelectronics and its quantum applications is that conventional cubic silicon has an indirect band gap, and hence it is optically inactive. ONCHIPS will capitalize on a recent breakthrough from within its consortium: growth and optical characterization of a revolutionary new material: hexagonal germanium-silicon (hex-GeSi), which is a silicon-based, optically active, direct-bandgap semiconductor. Building on this discovery, ONCHIPS' key objectives are as follows:

(1) We will for the first time grow advanced hex-GeSi heterostructures for quantum technology applications.
(2) We will realise spin qubits in quantum dots in hex-GeSi.
(3) We will create spin-photon interfaces in hex-GeSi, made possible by the direct bandgap of the material.
(4) We will build single-photon detectors for wavelengths beyond 2 micrometers, optimized for emission from hex-GeSi.

This project is well aligned with the scope of the call, and will foster the integration of electronic and optoelectronic functionalities based on a silicon-based direct-bandgap semiconductor, using a combination of facilities and expertise that is available only in Europe.

Hence ONCHIPS will establish a strong contribution to European innovation leadership in electronics, photonics, emerging enabling technologies in general, and quantum technologies in particular, making our contributions highly relevant for the work program. This new material has the potential to be compatible with standard silicon-based semiconductor technology, benefitting from established roadmaps on miniaturization and scalability.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

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

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE
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.

€ 798 125,00
Address
DRIENERLOLAAN 5
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands

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Region
Oost-Nederland Overijssel Twente
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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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.

€ 798 125,00

Participants (6)

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