Project description
Bringing single-emitter quantum optics onto a chip
Detecting single quantum emitters usually relies on massive laboratory optics that are difficult to scale. The ERC-funded PHOTONCHIP aims to change this by shrinking the necessary optical hardware onto a single chip. Using a photonic integrated circuit instead of traditional microscopy reduces the system size from metres to millimetres while removing the need for constant realignment. The project uses diamond nitrogen-vacancy centres to demonstrate a platform that is portable, cheap, and compatible with extreme cold. Successfully tested, this technology allows for portable, scalable quantum devices that can operate in cryogenic environments.
Objective
Single emitters in wide-bandgap semiconductors are key elements of future optical quantum technologies, including sensors, circuits, and fiber communication. The standard approach to detecting and characterizing single emitters is optical fluorescence microscopy, which requires a laboratory infrastructure due to the use of free-space optics. However, in order to integrate single emitters into functional devices and operate them in demanding environments, the optics must be compact, robust, and low maintenance. PHOTONCHIP addresses this issue by replacing the free-space optics with a single photonic integrated circuit (PIC).
In PHOTONCHIP, I will demonstrate a prototype PIC device that combines all optical functionality of single emitter detection – excitation and light collection at different wavelengths, lensed focusing, and fiber coupling – on a single chip. The PIC will shrink the size of the optics from meters to millimeters, reduce complexity and cost, and improve robustness with no need for optical re-alignment. Key technical innovations include broadband operation in the visible wavelength range, wavelength separation of excitation and fluorescent light, and integration of the microscope objective on chip.
The prototype PIC will be developed on single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center quantum emitters in diamond, providing the first commercial use case with existing applications in quantum sensors and communication networks. The PIC will simplify existing microscopy solutions, lead to lower system cost, extend use to cryogenic environments, and enable integration into portable sensors. More broadly, the chip will be developed as a generic platform for single emitter excitation, control and detection for optical and device metrology. Overall, the PIC has key potential for driving discovery and innovation in the critical EU technology areas of quantum and semiconductors.
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 materials engineering fibers
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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Keywords
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)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
Funding Scheme
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.
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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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.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.