At the end of Year 1, the following has been achieved:
-ICFO has modeled neutral atoms arrays with specific geometries which can have multiple quantum applications. They have proposed a protocol for utilizing atomic arrays with super-wavelength spacings to implement efficient quantum optical operations, such as a quantum memory. This atomic spacing is of technical importance as it is easier to implement with current technologies, requiring significantly less complex setup and overheads.
-IOTA and Pasqal have spent the first year building a trapped atoms setup from scratch in a shared lab between the two institutions, allowing to leverage the knowledge and efficiency of both academia and the industry. Atoms were first trapped in a magneto-optica trap (MOT) in July 2024 (M9), in a setup specifically designed to achieve the goals of the project.
-Pixel has worked on adapting its on-chip detectors technology to the project. Namely, they worked on improving the coupling to the photonic integrated circuit to enable for delicate input states such as quantum light, and they demonstrated a better performance at the operating wavelength of the project than at telecom wavelength.
-SU, Pasqal and IOTA have worked together to define the key parameters for the quantum light source to be used as input to then generate quantum states of light that are more suited to quantum applications. This preliminary work will allow for a faster beginning of SU tasks that start in the second year.