RAISE-EQuIP: Chip-Scale Quantum Memories for Practical Quantum Communication Networks

RAISE-EQUIP：用于实用量子通信网络的芯片级量子存储器本项目是在NSF呼吁跨学科科学与工程(RAISE)先进研究的背景下构思的，具体地说是一封面向量子通信的工程量子集成平台(EFIP)的尊敬的同事信。它解决了21世纪科学的一个重大挑战：利用材料科学、纳米制造、信号处理和集成芯片上系统的现代能力，将量子相干系统的计算能力和灵敏度用于实际应用。受基于自旋的量子设备的明显潜力的推动，这个RAISE-Equip型项目采用了一种工程方法来解决目前限制其性能和可扩展性的一系列技术障碍。这种跨学科的方法利用最先进的经典和量子信号处理、硅基集成平台中的电子电路设计、机器学习优化和纳米光子设计，目的是将基于自旋的量子寄存器从实验室规模的实验转变为紧凑、集成的系统，可为新的应用和科学研究提供动力。凭借在现实世界限制下提供的卓越性能，这些设备可以部署在试验台量子通信网络中，并将使未来对基础量子物理的研究成为可能。这个合作项目将吸引来自不同背景的许多本科生和研究生；它的研究目标与广泛的教育使命相结合，教育学生和公众了解新兴的量子科学和技术领域。通过实现紧凑、坚固、低成本的量子设备，该项目将支持为K-12学生和公众设计和部署有关自旋、光子和量子通信的动手活动，用于针对宾夕法尼亚州费城和里约热内卢普罗维登斯大量不同人群的场所。核自旋集群与光学可寻址的电子自旋量子比特(如钻石中的氮空位(NV)中心)耦合是量子通信的领先平台。星系团构成了一个量子比特寄存器，可以单独寻址、纠缠、存储超过1秒的时间，并用于量子纠错。然而，目前最先进的实验是在实验室规模的装置上进行的，这些装置包括定制的光学低温恒温器、振动敏感的自由空间光学装置和微波电子学机架。次优的光子收集效率和对量子控制序列的劳动密集型校准要求进一步阻碍了性能。这个RAISE-Equip型项目将利用钻石NV量子控制和器件工程(Bassett)、高速模拟电路设计和信号处理(APlatouni)以及计算物理和纳米光子学(ZIA)等领域合作研究人员的互补专业知识，在多个层面上应对这些挑战。我们将设计和制造紧凑型光纤耦合钻石器件，采用纳米级光学金属透镜和阻抗匹配的微波天线来分别传输光学信号和自旋共振信号，并将这些器件与定制的硅芯片集成在一起，这些芯片处理必要的模拟和数字信号，用于自旋共振、光子计数和实时自适应反馈控制。计算机器学习方法将使未知耦合自旋哈密顿量的有效映射和控制成为可能。由此产生的量子注册设备将显示出比最先进的实验室系统更好的性能，但体积、成本和能源需求仅为其一小部分。模块化混合集成系统的组件可推广到其他基于自旋、离子、光子和超导量子比特的量子体系结构，因此这些设备可以作为未来几代便携式量子技术的框架。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。

RAISE-EQuIP: Chip-Scale Quantum Memories for Practical Quantum Communication NetworksThis project is conceived in the context of the NSF's call for Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE), and specifically a Dear Colleague Letter for Engineering Quantum Integrated Platforms for Quantum Communication (EQuIP). It addresses a grand challenge of 21st-century science: leveraging modern capabilities in materials science, nanofabrication, signal processing, and integrated systems-on-a-chip to harness the computational power and sensitivity of quantum-coherent systems for practical applications. Motivated by the clear potential of spin-based quantum devices, this RAISE-EQuIP project adopts an engineering approach to address a series of technological roadblocks that currently limit their performance and scalability. The interdisciplinary approach harnesses state-of-the-art classical and quantum signal processing, electronic circuit design in silicon-based integrated platforms, machine learning optimization, and nanophotonic design, with the aim to transform spin-based quantum registers from a laboratory-scale experiments into compact, integrated systems that are available to power new applications and scientific investigations. With superior performance offered under real-world constraints, these devices can be deployed in testbed quantum communication networks and will enable future investigations of fundamental quantum physics. The collaborative project will engage many undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds; its research goals are coupled with a broad educational mission to educate students and the public about the emerging field of quantum science and technology. Through the realization of compact, robust, low-cost quantum devices, this project will support the design and deployment of hands-on activities for K-12 students and the public about spins, photons, and quantum communication, for use at venues that target large, diverse populations in Philadelphia, PA and Providence, RI.Clusters of nuclear spins coupled to an optically addressable electron-spin qubit such as the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond are leading platforms for quantum communication. The cluster constitutes a register of qubits that can be individually addressed, entangled, stored for times exceeding 1s, and utilized for quantum error correction. However, state-of-the-art experiments are currently performed on laboratory-scale setups consisting of customized optical cryostats, vibration-sensitive free-space optics, and racks of microwave electronics. Performance is further impeded by sub-optimal photon collection efficiency and labor-intensive calibration requirements for quantum control sequences. This RAISE-EQuIP project will tackle these challenges on multiple levels, drawing on complementary expertise of the collaborating researchers in diamond NV quantum control and device engineering (Bassett), high-speed analog circuit design and signal processing (Aflatouni), and computational physics and nanophotonics (Zia). We will design and build compact, fiber-coupled diamond devices featuring nanofabricated optical metalenses and impedance-matched microwave antennas to transmit optical and spin-resonance signals, respectively, and integrate these devices with custom-fabricated silicon CMOS chips that process the necessary analog and digital signals for spin resonance, photon counting, and real-time adaptive feedback control. Computational machine learning methods will enable efficient mapping and control of the unknown coupled-spin Hamiltonian. The resulting quantum-register devices will exhibit performance superior to state-of-the-art laboratory systems, but with a fraction of the size, cost, and energy requirements. Components of the modular, hybrid-integrated system are generalizable to other quantum architectures based on spins, ions, photons, and superconducting qubits, so these devices can serve as a framework for future generations of portable quantum technologies.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.