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Cavity-Integrated Electro-Optics: Measuring, Converting and Manipulating Microwaves with Light

Project description

Breaking barriers in quantum technologies with electro-optic interconnects

As quantum technologies advance, their potential to revolutionise computing and communication grows, with an estimated market value of EUR 1 billion. However, the limitations of microwave-based quantum systems present challenges, particularly in scaling quantum processors to meet societal demands. These systems require operation in ultra-cold environments, creating issues with wiring, electronics, and heat loads. To overcome these barriers, quantum information needs to be transferred from superconducting processors to room-temperature environments. The EIC-funded CIELO project will develop electro-optic interconnects for coherent quantum information transfer. This combines integrated photonics, advanced materials, and superconducting qubits, enabling a range of innovations like optical detection and laser cooling. By using cavity electro-optics, CIELO paves the way for scalable, modular quantum processors.

Objective

Electro-optic technologies have emerged as one of the leading platforms in both classical and quantum communication landscapes. The advent of circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) based on low-loss Josephson junction circuits has led to spectacular scientific breakthroughs in quantum science and technology. In recent years, these breakthroughs have been translated into commercial quantum computing efforts worldwide, targeting a market with an estimated value of 1 billion Euro. Despite these achievements, there are fundamental limitations to quantum technologies based solely on microwaves. Operating in a millikelvin environment, the space required for wiring and electronics as well as the associated heat loads are barriers for scaling up the quantum processors to the size needed to address societal challenges.

Electro-optic interconnects capable of coherently distributing and transferring quantum information from superconducting processors to a room temperature environment would address this challenge. Such devices would enable quantum processors to be scaled up in a modular fashion, which will be key to realizing complex and capable quantum machines that remain controllable and error-correctable. Moreover, these microwave-optical interfaces would also form the basis for efficient laser-driven microwave technologies relevant to sensing applications, such as microwave astronomy or robust and low-noise microwave amplification.

In CIELO, we aim to lay the foundation for laser-based manipulation of microwave fields using cavity electro-optics, enabling amplification, quantum-limited optical detection, interconversion, qubit readout, laser cooling and masing, in stark contrast to the commonly used electrical techniques. We will leverage a combination of unique expertise in integrated photonics, advanced materials, and superconducting qubits to realize cavity electro-optic devices operating in the quantum regime.

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01

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Coordinator

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA
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.

€ 766 047,50
Address
Am Campus 1
3400 KLOSTERNEUBURG
Austria

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Region
Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Wiener Umland/Nordteil
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.

€ 766 047,50

Participants (3)

Partners (3)

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