RII Track-2 FEC: Laying the Foundation for Scalable Quantum Photonic Technologies

量子信息承诺在计算、通信和传感方面取得革命性的进步。通过利用独特的量子力学特性，有可能实现指数级的计算加速，构建一个安全、匿名发送信息的量子互联网，并使传感器的精度比现有的经典技术好几个数量级。尽管在过去的几年里，我们在实现这些量子技术目标方面取得了巨大的进展，但我们还没有实现它们的全部承诺。该项目的重点是实现量子光子技术的可扩展基础。光子学是一个以操纵和控制光的传播为基础的领域，基于光子的量子技术是实现传感和量子通信的中等规模量子技术最有前途的技术之一。新墨西哥大学（UNM）和特拉华大学（UD）之间的跨司法管辖区合作重点是控制用于发射和吸收光的材料，这些光发射点的位置和波长，以及它们与其他光子器件组件的集成，这些组件可以控制光的分布或操纵方式。该项目包括：(1)通过建立助学金来培养学生在国家研究需求的关键领域的才能，使学生能够在该领域进行研究；(2)在新墨西哥大学（UNM）建立量子科学与工程研究生课程，以特拉华大学（UD）最近建立的新课程为基础。基于光子学的量子技术是最有前途的分支之一，能够在当前的CMOS和III-V型平台上实现器件。然而，在这方面的研究工作是高度分散的，一些机构专注于计算方面，一些机构专注于基础材料科学问题，还有一些机构专注于展示光子量子比特系统的设备集成。该项目将在新墨西哥大学（UNM）和特拉华大学（UD）之间建立一个跨司法管辖区的合作，以实现可扩展量子光子学技术的基础项目。这项工作的智力焦点包括：(1)克服目前阻碍可扩展量子光子材料和器件平台发展的位点和光谱不均匀性挑战的综合方法；(2)协调努力开发和探索二维和III-V材料中的量子发射器，包括第一性原理计算，材料合成和量子发射器表征；(3)光子器件组件的发展，包括等离子体、用于光子转导的克尔微谐振器和超导单光子探测器；(4)利用新墨西哥大学和特拉华大学的互补专业知识，将光子器件组件与量子发射器材料集成在一起。该集成将用于演示a)光子器件元件的定点确定性量子发射，b)调谐或转换单光子波长以克服光谱不均匀性的能力，以及c)单光子的全片确定性生成、路由和检测。项目计划包括强大的教育和劳动力发展计划，包括实施针对“量子劳动力”所需技能量身定制的新研究生学位课程，这将培养下一代量子光子学技术的领导者。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum information promises revolutionary advances in computation, communication, and sensing. By harnessing unique quantum mechanical properties, it is possible to attain exponential computational speedup, construct a quantum internet that sends information securely and anonymously, and enable sensors with precision that is orders of magnitude better than existing classical technologies. Although we have witnessed tremendous progress towards realizing such quantum technology goals in the past several years, we have yet to realize their full promise. This project is focused on realizing a scalable foundation for quantum photonic technologies. Photonics is a field based on manipulating and controlling the propagation of light, and photonic-based quantum technologies are one of the most promising for realizing mid-scale quantum technologies for sensing and quantum communication. This interjurisdictional effort between the University of New Mexico (UNM) and University of Delaware (UD) is focused on controlling the materials used to emit and absorb light, the location and wavelength of these light emission sites, and their integration into other photonic device components that can control how that light is distributed or manipulated. The project includes (1) developing student talent in a key area of national research need through the establishment of assistantships that will allow students to conduct research in this area and (2) the establishment of a quantum science and engineering graduate program at University of New Mexico (UNM) based on the new program recently established at the University of Delaware (UD).Photonics based quantum technologies are one of the most promising branches, with the ability to realize devices on current CMOS and III-V type platforms. However, the research effort on this front is highly distributed, with some institutions focusing on the computational aspects, some on the fundamental material science problems, and others on the integration of devices to demonstrate photonic qubit systems. This project will establish an interjurisdictional effort between the University of New Mexico (UNM) and University of Delaware (UD) to realize a foundational program for scalable quantum photonics technologies. The intellectual foci of the effort include – (1) an integrated approach to overcoming the site- and spectral-inhomogeneity challenges that currently hamper the development of scalable quantum photonic material and device platforms; (2) coordinated efforts to develop and explore quantum emitters in both 2D and III-V materials, including first-principles calculations, materials synthesis, and quantum emitter characterization; (3) development of photonic device components including plasmonics, Kerr-microresonators for photon transduction, and superconducting single photon detectors; (4) leveraging the complementary expertise of UNM and UD to integrate photonic device components with quantum emitter materials. This integration will be used to demonstrate a) site-deterministic quantum emission into photonic device elements, b) capacity to tune or transduce single photon wavelengths to overcome spectral inhomogeneity, and c) all-on-chip deterministic generation, routing, and detection of single photons. Project plans include strong educational and work-force development programs, including the implementation of new graduate degree programs tailored to the skills required by the “Quantum Workforce,” that will train the next generation of leaders in quantum photonics 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.