Project description
Bringing quantum light to silicon chips
Quantum light sources are essential for next-generation technologies, but integrating them into compact, scalable chips remains a challenge. Silicon nitride (SiN), a proven material in photonics, lacks a crucial property (second-order nonlinearity) needed to generate quantum light efficiently. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GLINT project explores a promising solution: using an ‘all-optical poling’ technique to induce this nonlinearity in SiN, enabling highly efficient quantum light generation directly on-chip. Focusing on microring resonators, the team aims to model, fabricate, and test a chip-based source of narrow-band quantum light, culminating in a proof-of-concept for quantum communication. If successful, GLINT could unlock a new path for scalable, CMOS-compatible quantum photonic circuits.
Objective
Harnessing the quantum properties of light on-chip is the ultimate aim of Integrated Quantum Photonics, bearing the promise of novel quantum technology functionalities to the microscale. A critical step in this process is the generation of quantum light, typically achieved through nonlinear processes such as spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in second-order (χ(2)) nonlinear media or spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM), through the third-order (χ(3)) response. While the silicon nitride (SiN) integrated photonics platform has proven extremely reliable, low-loss, and compatible with large scale fabrication, its centrosymmetric nature of SiN prevents χ(2) interactions, hindering the implementation of low-noise, highly efficient SPDC-based sources. Lithium Niobate and III-V materials are valid alternatives, but they lack the technological maturity provided by the CMOS fabrication process. Recent research has shown that the coherent photogalvanic effect can endow SiN with a χ(2) response, a photoinduced nonlinearity that automatically satisfies the quasi-phase matching condition, enabling highly efficient frequency conversion. Such “all-optical poling” technique has proven suitable to enable a wide range of functionalities based on χ(2) interactions. The purpose of GLINT is to investigate the potential of all-optical poling in SiN for the generation of quantum light via χ(2) processes. The project will specifically focus on the study of SiN microring-resonator-based SPDC sources, owing to their capability to enhance the efficiency of spontaneous processes and to generate, thanks to their peculiar spectral response, narrow-band states. This will be achieved by i) theoretically modelling a resonator-based SPDC source ii) realizing a chip-scale prototype using commercial-grade technology and providing a full characterization of the generated quantum states iii) demonstrating a proof-of-concept quantum communication protocol using the developed chip-scale source.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors optical sensors
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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27100 Pavia
Italy
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