Project description DEENESFRITPL Novel magnetic topological insulator materials to boost the performance of single-photon detectors The EU-funded SuperPHOTON project aims to produce and commercialise new ultra-sensitive quantum light sensors, which are critical for the success and proliferation of quantum computers. The structural and electronic properties of the niobium-based nanowires, yet widely used as superconductors for photodetection they are not suitable for cryogenic or room temperature readout, impeding scalable quantum technology deployment. Using pulsed laser deposition and molecular beam epitaxy, researchers will grow high-quality magnetic topological insulator materials for superconductor-based single photon detector prototypes with high efficiencies and ultralow jitter. These new topological materials could help the team measure photons at extremely low temperatures. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Superconducting single photon detectors are critical components for emerging quantum technologies due to their high detection efficiencies, short jitter, photon number resolution, high maximum and low dark count rates. These devices may enable new ground-breaking applications in topological quantum computing and quantum internet. Niobium-based nanowires (Nb, NbN) are some of the most used superconductors for photodetection, but their material characteristics, device jitter and efficiencies cannot be effectively tuned or reproduced for scalable quantum technology deployment. The structural and electronic properties of these nanowires are not suitable for scalable cryogenic or room temperature readout. The challenges in growing high-quality quantum materials consistently provide a significant bottleneck against the development of quantum technologies that might efficiently interface with conventional microelectronics. In my ERC Grant (948063), we are using our pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) expertise for magnetic topological insulators (MTI) and garnets for spintronic and superconducting devices with high conversion efficiency between electronic spins and charges. Here, I propose to develop three prototypes and obtain their patents: (1) Three MTI superconductor-based single photon detector prototypes with beyond state-of-the-art high efficiencies and ultralow jitter owing to the unique properties of MTI such as ultrafast sub-ps magnetization reversal, ballistic transport of Dirac electrons along the interfaces and integrated spin logic. (2) We are going to provide a steady supply of high-quality superconductor and spintronic films (NbN, MTI, and magnetic garnets) to accelerate basic and applied research, which is a market growing with about 20% annual rate. (3) A custom low-cost cryostat for 2-3K detector tests will be prepared with fiber optical and RF cable feedthroughs, electromagnets, readout electronics and software. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsspintronicsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computersnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicspulsed lasersnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivitynatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2022-POC2 - ERC PROOF OF CONCEPT GRANTS2 Call for proposal ERC-2022-POC2 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-AG-LS - HORIZON Lump Sum Grant Host institution KOC UNIVERSITY Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address RUMELI FENERI YOLU SARIYER 34450 Istanbul Türkiye See on map Region İstanbul İstanbul İstanbul Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all KOC UNIVERSITY Türkiye Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address RUMELI FENERI YOLU SARIYER 34450 Istanbul See on map Region İstanbul İstanbul İstanbul Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data
