A PLUG-AND-PLAY QUANTUM PHOTONIC COMPUTING TESTBED
Abstract
Optics and photonics are at the forefront of quantum information technologies, as they naturally link computing, communications, and networking in the same physical framework. In a similar way that integrated circuits revolutionized electronics, integrated photonics is a driving technology for scalable quantum information systems—from chip-scale processors and memories to encrypted key distribution and sensing across global networks. In this DURIP proposal, we propose to build unique instrumentation to test and benchmark integrated quantum photonic systems for (1) all-on-chip linear optical quantum computing with up to 16 quantum bits, (2) quantum machine learning with reconfigurable quantum photonic circuits, and (3) quantum photonic transmitter and receiver chips with entangled-photon source arrays for communications and networking. Despite the intellectually diverse goals of these applications, photonic integrated circuits are a common key enabling technology that calls for development of new instrumentation and measurement techniques. The University of California, Santa Barbara has a long-standing tradition of excellence in photonics with a world-renowned electronics and photonics group, a state-of-the-art nanofabrication facility and characterization instrumentation, serving as the West Coast Headquarters of AIM Photonics, and strong student engagement through the Photonics Society, which was recently awarded Most Innovative Chapter by IEEE. We look to build upon this success by constructing the first cryogenic plug-and-play quantum photonic computing testbed system capable of screening and benchmarking intermediate-scale (5-20 quantum bits) processors and circuits. With a recently awarded AFOSR Young Investigator Grant, we will develop novel heterogeneous photonics platforms with 100’s to 1,000’s of opto-electronic components monolithically integrated into a compact chip, including quantum light sources, filters, wavelength demultiplexers, tunable interferometers, and single-photon detectors. The range of applications that are enabled by intermediate-scale quantum photonic circuits is extraordinarily diverse. This DURIP proposal motivates and outlines the development of unique and innovative cryogenic photonic computing instrumentation that greatly expands the capabilities of existing tools to access leading quantum photonic systems with wider optical bandwidth and multi-channel optical and electrical connections at temperatures down to 0.8 K. This new tool will have vastly improved throughput, enabling cryogenic control of quantum photonic processors with up to 16 qubits and 32 integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. These unique capabilities will address critical testing needs for a wide-range of photonic devices with technological relevance to the Department of Defense. The proposed instrumentation will benefit the training of a large number of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at UCSB in quantum photonics and information processing, which will be the focus of many Ph.D. dissertations. The proposed system will be operated within a shared instrumentation user network, impacting a wide range of interdisciplinary research programs at UCSB and collaborating institutions. This system will significantly expand the opportunities that are offered through internships and offered lab courses to graduate and undergraduate students.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110257
Entities
People
- Galan Moody
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of California, Santa Barbara