Quantum photonics on a silicon chip

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Carsten Schuck
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2013 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 235092002

The goal of this project is to build a scalable quantum computing system on a silicon chip. Using quantum systems for computational tasks allows going far beyond today's classical information processing capabilities. However, current quantum technologies do not easily scale to larger size and complexity. Here we propose to overcome this scalability challenge by using integrated nano-scale optics to process quantum information encoded in single photons. We will realize all crucial building blocks of a nano-photonic quantum computer, namely nonclassical light sources (input), integrated optical circuits (algorithm) and superconducting single-photon detectors (output). Employing nanofabrication techniques we will implement all these components on the same silicon chip. We will use CMOS-compatible materials with strong optical nonlinearities to produce single photons on-chip in the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion. These photon sources will provide the input to fully integrated circuits of photonic waveguides configured for the implementation of logic operations and ultimately full quantum algorithms. For the detection of single photons at the output we will develop a novel highly efficient superconducting nanowire detector with high timing resolution directly embedded in the nanophotonic circuitry. The monolithic architecture and small size of such nanophotonic devices on a silicon platform will allow us to overcome the stability and scalability limitations of state-of-the-art experiments in quantum optics using bulk components. The project is vast cross-disciplinary in nature, encompassing electrical engineering, material science and multiple areas of physics: quantum physics, semiconductor physics, superconductivity, and nonlinear optics.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Hong Tang, Ph.D.