RAISE-EQuIP: A Chip-integrated Platform for Photon-Efficient Quantum Communications

非技术摘要：量子通信利用物理基本定律来可靠地保护私人信息网络，即使在不可信的渠道上也是如此。尽管在研究和技术演示方面取得了快速进展，但其在实际环境中的大规模部署仍然面临着巨大的困难，如距离有限、数据速率低、对信道干扰的敏感性高、操作开销不成比例。该项目旨在通过开发用于制备和检测处于有利量子态的光子信号的芯片集成设备和子系统来应对这些挑战。它们将被组装成创新的系统，用于针对恶劣天气条件的视线应用，在单光子上进行超高效的信息编码和解码，以及在自由空间和光纤上进行优化的混合量子通信。该项目将由史蒂文斯理工学院和德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校的研究小组合作实施。来自这两个学院的学生将得到支持、激励和培训，以便在设备集成、量子光学、高速电光电路和通信系统的交叉领域工作。拥有这种均衡培训和知识基础的劳动力将为量子技术的产业发展做出重大贡献。在史蒂文斯，每个向公众开放的学期都会举办一个周末实验室参观活动，展示量子物理和纳米光子学的融合前沿。在阿灵顿，将在工程周和K-12夏令营期间组织有指导的实验室访问。这两个团体将继续吸引代表人数不足的团体的成员，并帮助他们开始科学和工程事业。技术摘要：该项目将为模块化量子收发机开发一个基于LiNb薄膜的高度集成的量子光子平台，其独特的能力包括：3.2微米光谱间隔的纠缠产生，皮秒时间尺度上的无损光子波形整形，基于模式分辨光子检测的破坏性接收技术，以及用于快速量子信号的超快光时分解复用。有了这些产品，这一新的设备平台将承载创新技术，通过电信光纤和自由空间进行快速、强大和光子效率高的量子通信。该项目将针对三个量子通信系统。第一种是创新的中红外通道，用于在自由空间进行不受气候影响的量子通信，它不仅可以成倍地提高通信速度和覆盖范围，而且通过进一步的发展，还可以为量子卫星的应用提供可靠、高速的地面-空间链路。第二种是超光子高效的量子密钥分发，使用重叠的时频模式来显着提高密钥率，同时也加强了信道的安全性。同时，量子比特锁定也将通过么正加扰和解扰单光子来探索，作为高速量子加密的一种替代方法。第三个奖项是自由空间和光纤上的优化混合量子密钥分发系统，该系统可能构成未来多功能、弹性量子网络的基础。该奖项反映了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。

Nontechnical Abstract:Quantum communication exploits the fundamental laws of physics to reliably secure private information networking even over untrusted channels. Despite rapid progresses in research and technology demonstrations, its large-scale deployment in practical settings still faces significant difficulties such as limited distance, low data rates, high susceptibility to channel disturbances, and disproportional operating overhead. This project aims to address those challenges by developing chip-integrated devices and sub-systems for preparation and detection of photonic signals in advantageous quantum states. They will be assembled to create innovative systems for line-of-sight applications robust against inferior weather conditions, ultra-efficient information encoding and decoding on single photons, and optimized hybrid quantum communication over both free space and optical fibers. This project will be carried out collaboratively by research groups from Stevens Institute of Technology and University of Texas at Arlington. Students from both institutes will be supported, motivated, and trained to work at the intersection of device integration, quantum optics, high-speed electro-optic circuits, and communication systems. A workforce with such balanced trainings and knowledge bases will contribute significantly to the industrial development of quantum technologies. At Stevens, a weekend-lab visit will be hosted each semester open to public to showcase the merging frontiers of quantum physics and nanophotonics. At Arlington, guided lab visits will be organized during the Engineering Week and K-12 summer camps. Both groups will continue to attract members from under-represented groups and help them launch scientific and engineering careers. Technical Abstract: This project will develop a highly-integrated quantum photonic platform based on lithium niobate thin films for modular quantum transceivers, whose unique capabilities include entanglement generation over 3.2-micron spectral spacing, lossless photon waveform shaping on a picosecond timescale, disruptive receiver technology based on mode-resolving photon detection, and ultrafast optical time-division de-multiplexing for fast quantum signals. With these offerings, this new device platform will host innovative techniques for fast, robust, and photon-efficient quantum communications over both telecom fibers and free space. Three quantum communication systems will be targeted in this project. The first is an innovative mid-IR channel for weatherproof quantum communication over free space, which not only multiplies the communication speed and reach but may also provide a reliable, high-speed ground-space link for quantum satellite applications through further development. The second is ultra-photon-efficient quantum key distribution using overlapping time-frequency modes to significantly increase the key rate while also strengthening the channel security. Meanwhile, quantum bit locking will also be explored by unitary scrambling and de-scrambling single photons, as an alternative approach to high-speed quantum encryption. The third is an optimized hybrid quantum key distribution system over free space and optical fibers that could form the basis for the future versatile, resilient quantum networks.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.