QLC: EAGER: Quantum Simulation Using Solution Processed Quantum Dots Coupled to Nano-cavities

量子技术可以实现更快的计算和安全的通信，从而使现代信息系统发生革命性的变化。这种技术可以通过利用光的量子性质，即光子来实现。不幸的是，光子本身并不相互作用，这阻碍了它们直接应用于量子信息处理。在化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持下，华盛顿大学的Arka Majudar教授和Brandi Cossairt教授正在设计纳米级光学结构，这种结构可以长期存储光，同时将其限制在较小的体积内。这就像是用放大镜聚焦太阳光，但在纳米尺度上，这种效果发生在单光子水平上。将纳米粒子与这些光学纳米结构集成在一起，会导致光子之间的强烈相互作用。当光子相互影响时，它们就可以用来以各种有用的方式分发量子信息。该项目的发现正在推动我们对光与物质相互作用的理解，并为量子技术带来新的、独一无二的平台。此外，该项目正在为研究生、本科生和高中生提供量子技术方面的培训和教育，重点是吸纳妇女和来自代表性不足的少数群体的学生。纳米光学谐振器可以通过光的空间和时间限制来增强光与物质的相互作用。单个量子点与这种谐振器的集成可能会导致强耦合机制，在这种机制下，单个光子相互排斥，产生一种称为光子阻塞的效应。这种强相互作用对于模拟电子在真实材料和其他强关联量子多体系统中的复杂行为是必要的。然而，单量子点的确定性定位是一项非常困难的任务，到目前为止还没有解决。为了解决这个问题，该团队正在使用溶液处理的胶体量子点，并在每个纳米谐振器上结合光刻定义的窗口。将数值模拟、新的合成化学和光学表征相结合，进行了三个方面的研究：(I)大物理尺寸量子点的合成；(Ii)量子点与纳米谐振器的尺寸选择集成和量子光学性质的测量；(Iii)非线性腔阵列中的光谱学和光子相关测量。这项拟议的研究建立在PI之前在溶液处理量子点、腔量子电动力学和单光子非线性光学方面的工作基础上。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum technologies can revolutionize modern information systems by enabling faster computing and secured communication. Such technologies can be realized by exploiting the quantum nature of light, namely, photons. Unfortunately, photons do not interact with each other on their own, which prevents their direct application for quantum information processing. With support from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry program in the Division of Chemistry, Professors Arka Majumdar and Brandi Cossairt from the University of Washington are designing nanoscale optical structures that can store light for a long time while simultaneously confining it to a small volume. It is like focusing sun-light with a magnifying glass, but on the nanometer scale, the effect happens at a single photon level. Integrating nanoparticles with these optical nanostructures leads to a strong interaction between the photons. When photons are made to influence one another, they can then be used to distribute quantum information in a variety of useful ways. Discoveries from this project are advancing our understanding of how light interacts with matter, as well as leading to new, one-of-a-kind platforms for quantum technologies. Furthermore, the project is providing training and education in quantum technologies for graduate, undergraduate and high school students, with a strong emphasis on including women and students from underrepresented minorities groups. Nano-optical resonators can enhance the light-matter interaction via spatial and temporal confinement of light. The integration of a single quantum dot with such a resonator can lead to the strong coupling regime, where individual photons repel each other in an effect known as photon blockade. Such strong interactions are necessary for simulating the complicated behavior of electrons in real materials and other strongly correlated quantum many-body systems. However, deterministic positioning of single quantum dots is a very difficult task, and to date remains unsolved. To address this problem, the team is using solution-processed colloidal quantum dots in conjunction with lithographically defined windows on each nano-resonator. Combining numerical simulations, new synthesis chemistry, and optical characterization, three research thrusts are pursued: (i) Synthesis of quantum dots with large physical size; (ii) Size-selective integration of quantum dots with nano-resonators and measurement of quantum optical properties; (iii) Optical spectroscopy and photon correlation measurements in a nonlinear cavity array. The proposed research is built upon the PI's prior work on solution processed quantum dots, cavity quantum electrodynamics, and single photon nonlinear optics.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.