Description du projet
Un pas de plus vers l’intrication quantique à longue distance
Les dispositifs quantiques évolutifs qui génèrent et distribuent l’intrication quantique sur de grandes distances révolutionneront les communications et la technologie. Actuellement, l’utilisation de points quantiques (QD pour «quantum dots») pour la distribution à longue distance de photons intriqués est un défi en raison du manque de contrôle sur la structure électronique des QD. Toutefois, des chercheurs ont récemment introduit une nouvelle technologie hybride combinant des champs externes pour modifier les structures électroniques des QD, ce qui permet de générer des photons uniques et des photons mélangés par polarisation de haute qualité. Financé par le Conseil européen de la recherche, le projet SPQRel entend poursuivre le développement de cette technologie hybride afin de permettre le fonctionnement de protocoles de communication quantique avancés. Les activités du projet comprennent le développement d’une source de photons contrôlée électriquement qui génère des photons indiscernables et intriqués de n’importe quelle fréquence et la construction d’un réseau quantique.
Objectif
The development of scalable quantum devices that generate and distribute quantum entanglement over distant parties will bring about a revolution in communication science and technology. Epitaxial quantum dots (QDs) embedded in conventional diodes are arguably the most attractive quantum devices, since they combine the capability of QDs to deliver triggered and high-quality entangled photons with the tools of the mature semiconductor technology. However, it is at present impossible to use remote QDs for the distribution of entangled photons over large distances, mainly due to the lack of control over their electronic structure.
Recently, the PI has grasped that the solution to this problem resides in hybrid technologies. He has conceived and developed a novel class of semiconductor-piezoelectric quantum devices where different external fields are combined to reshape the electronic structure of any arbitrary QD so that single and polarization-entangled photons can be generated with unprecedented quality, efficiency, and speed, a major breakthrough for solid-state-based quantum communication.
In this project the PI will make the next pioneering step and develop the hybrid technology to the limit where advanced quantum communication protocols previously inaccessible to QDs can now be performed. The objective of the proposal is mainly to i) develop the first electrically-controlled wavelength-tunable source of indistinguishable and entangled photons, which can be exploited to ii) teleport entanglement over two distant QD-based qubits (the quantum relay) and to iii) attempt the construction of a quantum network where entangled photons from remote quantum relays are interconnected using warm atomic vapours.
The new hybrid technology that will be developed in this project to achieve i) will open new grounds in research fields well beyond quantum optics and quantum communication, and in particular the whole research area of strain-engineering of semiconductor thin-films.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesoptics
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsquantum optics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpiezoelectrics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Programme(s)
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitution d’accueil
00185 Roma
Italie