Quantum optics with nonlinear organic small molecule enhanced integrated photonics devices

量子网络已成为量子信息科学领域的一项全球性重大挑战，被确定为实现通用量子计算及其应用的关键技术。因此，开发可实施的设备来加速量子网络将促进美国的安全和技术领先地位。灵活的量子网络将能够在房间(数据中心)、城市(局域网)、大陆和跨大陆距离上高保真地传输任意量子态。在这项提议中，我们为量子频率转换器(QFC)的发展提供了一条途径，用于将光子的波长转换到国际电信联盟(ITU)频率网格的预先分配的通道中，并在这些通道之间转换，同时保留了编码在这些光子上的微妙的量子信息。计划中的方法与硅光子学技术完全兼容，为非经典光的产生和光的频率转换提供了一个可扩展、坚固、可制造的平台。培训和外联工作直接吸引科学界和公众的参与。与南加州大学工程多样性中心合作，将在Pi和Co-Pi的实验室接待两名本科生研究人员，并将组织一次免费的在线量子光学会议。过去几十年来，用于研究非线性和量子现象的芯片集成光子器件的性能迅速提高。这些设备实现了广泛的发现，并在我们的光通信网络中发挥着关键作用。然而，随着我们寻求从经典网络转向量子网络，我们必须记住，设计能够实现量子通信的组件，同时又能与传统光通信现有的大型基础设施兼容。量子网络的一项重要能力是使存储在光学量子比特上的量子信息与现代电信基础设施兼容，其中包括将量子通道映射到国际电信联盟(ITU)的频率网格。一种正在探索的方法依赖于使用集成光学谐振腔的频率转换。虽然这一概念在理论上是可靠的，但在实践中，与低转换效率和光功率要求相关的几个障碍必须解决。虽然可以通过使用具有长光子寿命的腔来克服功率要求，但转换效率是腔材料固有的。在这项工作中，我们将探索一种新型的混合光腔，它由非线性光学有机材料在氮氧化硅微环上自组装单分子膜组成。有机材料具有比传统光学材料高1,000-100,000倍的非线性光学(NLO)系数；因此，所提出的混合系统可以为当前的挑战提供一种变革性的解决方案。需要验证的微谐振器的关键量子能力是光学状态的相干波长转换，同时保持量子信息编码在其上的可观测对象的量子相干性。将研究的硅器件架构与现有的基础设施兼容；因此，这项工作将为利用现有的国际电联网格建立量子网络铺平道路。本科生和研究生将直接参与研究的所有方面，所有发现将通过学术出版物和社交媒体传播。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。

Quantum networking has emerged as a global grand challenge in the field of quantum information sciences, identified as a critical technology for enabling general purpose quantum computing and its applications. Therefore, developing implementable devices to accelerate quantum networking will advance US security and technical leadership. A flexible quantum network will have the ability to transmit an arbitrary quantum state with high-fidelity over room- (data-center), metropolitan- (LAN), continental- and trans-continental-distances. In this proposal, we provide a path for the development of quantum frequency converters (QFC’s) for translating the wavelength of photons into and between pre-assigned channels of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) frequency grid, while preserving the delicate quantum information that is encoded on those photons. The planned approach is fully compatible with silicon photonics technology providing a scalable, robust, manufacturable platform for the generation of non-classical light and frequency translation of that light. The training and outreach efforts directly engage the scientific community and the general public. In collaboration with USC’s Center for Engineering Diversity, two undergraduate student researchers will be hosted in the PI and Co-PI’s laboratories, and a free online Quantum Optics conference will be organized.The past decades have witnessed a rapid increase in the performance of on-chip integrated photonic devices for studying nonlinear and quantum phenomena. These devices have enabled a wide range of discoveries and are serving as critical roles in our optical communications network. However, as we look to shift from classical to quantum networking, we must be mindful to engineer components that enable quantum communications and yet are compatible with the large existing infrastructure already in place for classical optical communications. An important capability in quantum networking is making quantum information, stored on optical qubits, compatible with the modern telecommunications infrastructure, which includes mapping quantum channels to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) frequency grid. One approach being explored relies on frequency conversion using integrated optical resonant cavities. While the concept is theoretically robust, in practice, there are several hurdles related to low conversion efficiencies and optical power requirements that must be solved. While it is possible to overcome the power requirements by using a cavity with a long photon lifetime, the conversion efficiency is intrinsic to the cavity material. In the present work, we will explore a new type of hybrid optical cavity comprised of a self-assembled monolayer of nonlinear optical organic materials on a silicon oxynitride microring. Organic materials possess 1,000-100,000x higher Non-Linear Optic (NLO) coefficients than conventional optical materials; thus, the proposed hybrid system could provide a transformative solution to the current challenge. The key quantum capability of the microresonators to be validated is coherent wavelength translation of an optical state while preserving the quantum coherence of observables on which quantum information is encoded. The Si device architecture that will be studied is compatible with existing infrastructure; thus, this work will pave the way for establishing the quantum network using the existing ITU grid. Undergraduate and graduate students will be directly engaged in all aspects of the research, and all findings will be disseminated using scholarly publications as well as social media.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.