Project description
Pioneering light-matter interactions in quantum metamaterials
Quantum entanglement occurs when the quantum state of two or more particles cannot be described independently of the other particle(s), even at a distance. This allows quantum computers to carry out tasks that are inaccessible with classical computers. It requires strong interactions between localised qubits (atoms) and flying qubits (photons), but current paradigms are limited by interaction strength and subsequent loss mechanisms. The ERC-funded QuantMeta project aims to address this barrier to efficient quantum operations by creating quantum metamaterials from quantum-emitter arrays as novel interfaces for generating atom-photon entanglement. Coherent control of the emitters' internal degrees of freedom and first-ever access to long-lived states will lead to many-body entangled states for one-way quantum computation.
Objective
The key to realizing quantum systems that can implement quantum information processing is entanglement generation between many qubits. For distributing entanglement strong interactions between localized qubits (atoms) and flying qubits (photons) have to be ensured. The quantum-science community is currently searching for systems that offer enhanced light--matter interaction, as the efficiency of quantum operations in current state-of-the-art systems is limited by the interaction strength and loss mechanisms, which impede the generation of useful many-body entangled states.
We plan to address this challenge by creating quantum metamaterials from quantum-emitter arrays as novel interfaces for generating atom-photon entanglement. Whereas most of the scientific effort focuses on coupling localized qubits to pre-designed structures to enhance interaction (i.e. cavities), we plan to take a completely different approach: building bottom-up quantum optical metamaterials out of quantum particles. We will achieve this by embedding silicon-vacancy-center arrays integrated in a diamond chip, which have shown to be top candidates for entanglement distribution.
We will harness the enhanced collective response of the emitters to light and achieve a quantum response by coherently controlling the emitters' internal degrees of freedom. We will also access never-before-observed long-lived states, which are ideal for quantum memory. Our vision is to implement a scalable quantum light source with many degrees of freedom that generates large-scale atom-photon entanglement. By employing quantum information protocols we developed, our system can generate many-body entangled states applicable to one-way quantum computation. Our system unites major advantages for scaling-up entanglement: 1. High-fidelity quantum control over photonic states. 2. Potential operation-time speed-up by parallelizing photon control. 3. Quantum memory with long-lived states. 4. Integration into nanophotonics
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computers
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynanophotonics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
91904 Jerusalem
Israel