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Mach-Zehnder and Interference Get Enhanced by Reinforcement Learning

Project description

Enhanced single-photon evolutions in state-of-the-art photonic applications

Photonic integrated technologies are used in research ranging from quantum mechanics to quantum simulation and quantum communication. While mid-scale circuits have already been applied to various tasks, these technologies have the potential to reach large-scale implementations. However, when compact and dense integration is desired for high-precision tasks, the imperfect control over the reconfigurable optical evolutions of sources and detectors remains a significant drawback. To address this challenge, the EU-funded MAZINGER project aims to enhance single-photon evolutions in state-of-the-art photonic applications. It will therefore use well-established machine learning tools to deal with changing environments and non-ideal reconfigurable components. The project will lay the foundations for self-optimised applications of single- and multi-photon quantum interference in integrated photonic circuits.

Objective

Photonic integrated technologies provide an outstanding platform for several areas of research, from fundamental tests of quantum mechanics to quantum simulation and quantum communication. Recently, mid-scale circuits have already been applied to various tasks, most notably to realize quantum walks or Boson Sampling experiments. The potential of these technologies to reach large-scale implementations is rooted in the unique features of single photons, such as mobility, high bandwidth and ease of manipulation. In this direction, major obstacles are represented by the availability of sources and detectors with limited efficiency, as well as by an imperfect control over their reconfigurable optical evolutions. However, while practical solutions can be engineered for the two former stages, the latter opens up a challenge when compact and dense integration is desired for high-precision tasks. The research project MAZINGER will take up this challenge by bringing together analytical and numerical tools, in order to enhance single-photon evolutions in state-of-the-art photonic applications. To this end, MAZINGER will employ well-established tools from machine learning, such as reinforcement learning algorithms and saliency maps, to cope with changing environments and non-ideal reconfigurable components, respectively. To strengthen our research, the project involves a collaboration with a leading group in experimental photonics, with the goal of testing out and applying our findings on a high-precision test of quantum mechanics. In particular, the employed numerical techniques will be solidly based on the general framework of multi-photon interference, which has been investigated, both theoretically and experimentally, by the key players of this project. Eventually, MAZINGER will pave the way for self-optimized applications of single- and multi-photon quantum interference in integrated photonic circuits.

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Topic(s)

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
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.

€ 174 167,04
Address
INNRAIN 52
6020 Innsbruck
Austria

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Region
Westösterreich Tirol Innsbruck
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.

€ 174 167,04
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