Project description
Novel photonics integrated platform could advance quantum applications
Quantum technology, despite its potential to transform computing, communications and sensing systems, is currently hindered by size, cost and scalability issues. Thanks to their wafer-level manufacturing and microfabrication technologies, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) offer a way around these drawbacks. The challenge now lies in developing a universal PIC technology to cater to most quantum applications. The EU-funded QU-PIC project proposes using the Al2O3 integrated photonics platform. Researchers will focus on developing a broad range of PIC building blocks where current materials or technologies fall short. They will explore several light sources, single-photon detectors, programmable ASICs, and necessary packaging and assembly technologies. An open process design kit will group all quantum building blocks, accelerating innovation from conception to production.
Objective
Quantum technology holds the promise of enabling next generation computing, communications and sensing systems. However, the size, cost and scalability of current devices prevents them from reaching their full potential. Photonics is one of the key enabling technologies for quantum technology. In particular, photonics integrated circuits (PICs) with their wafer-level manufacturing based on microfabrication technologies can provide the reduction in size and cost and enable next generation scalable quantum technologies. To fully achieve this goal, an universal PIC technology that can serve most quantum applications is needed.
In QU-PIC, we selected the Al2O3 integrated photonics platform as backbone technology for the development of quantum PICs thanks to its excellent low propagation loss performance and wide operating spectral region from the ultraviolet (200 nm) until the mid-infrared. A large range of PIC building blocks is developed in QU-PIC, focusing on areas where materials or integration technologies are not yet available. Several light sources, including multiwavelength tunable lasers with operation at 399 nm, 411 nm and 935 nm on the PIC, UVC external cavity lasers emitting at 280 nm, sources of squeezed photons, single photon detectors, programmable ASICs and the required packaging and assembly technologies will be investigated. An open PDK will group all the developed quantum building blocks to accelerate innovation from the initial idea to an actually manufactured system. Two application demonstrators will be implemented using the developed building blocks, namely a source of GKP states for quantum processing and an atomic clock based on Yb+ ions for quantum sensing. It is the ambition of QU-PIC to secure a full European supply chain to establish Europe’s Sovereignty and manufacturing capabilities in photonics integrated circuits for quantum.
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HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands