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Photon-photon and spin-spin Entanglement using Diamond-based impurity Elements: Silicon, Tin And Lead

Project description

Diamond defects – a prime building block for quantum networks

Backed by the laws of quantum physics, quantum networks promise revolutionary capabilities in information processing and the advent of secure communication. The key hardware element of a quantum network is the node that communicates with other nodes by exchanging 'flying qubits'. These mobile qubits move along a chain of quantum processors that store the qubits’ states. The quantum spin property of nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamonds is a promising candidate for flying qubits. The EU-funded PEDESTAL project will address fundamental issues that prevent the scale up of diamond-based quantum devices. The project will create a quantum node hardware prototype based on diamond group IV defects able to sustain a multi-purpose quantum network that implements quantum communications and computing simultaneously.

Objective

Quantum technologies promise revolutionary capabilities in processing information and transmitting with security over a network certified by the principles of quantum physics. The key hardware element of a quantum network is the ‘node’, where a stationary qubit cluster perform primitive processes and communicate with other nodes by exchanging flying qubits. The interfacing between the stationary qubit cluster and the flying qubits is realised by a special ‘broker qubit’. Today, the most competitive candidates for flying and stationary qubits are photons and diamond spins, respectively, and this opportunity is being pursued worldwide. A specific emitter in diamond, the Nitrogen Vacancy (NV), has enabled landmark demonstrations of basic quantum building blocks, but faces fundamental challenges on reaching the optical qualities required to scale up. PEDESTAL offers an efficiency boost to the NV while building on key advances in diamond technology. Our goal is to create a quantum node hardware prototype with characteristics required to sustain a multi-purpose quantum network capable of implementing simultaneous quantum communications and computing. PEDESTAL will develop a demonstrator quantum node based on diamond group-4 spins, which offer specifications outperforming others. Benchmarking against the known silicon-vacancy (SiV) centre, our workhorse will be the tin-vacancy (SnV) centre, which we have shown to have outstanding qualities satisfying the requirements for a quantum node. In parallel, we will develop to maturity the less-known but highly promising lead-vacancy (PbV) centre which can operate with more feasible conditions and develop a novel technique to control spins. Our objectives include creating multi-spin and multi-photon entangled states as resource and will complete its key objectives with the demonstration of distributed three-spin entanglement, culminating in the experimental demonstration of a high-fidelity, high-bandwidth multi-node quantum network

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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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.

ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2019-ADG

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Host institution

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
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.

€ 2 478 734,00
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
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.

€ 2 478 734,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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