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

量子信息有望在计算、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，有可能获得指数级的计算加速，构建安全和匿名发送信息的量子互联网，并使传感器具有比现有经典技术高出数量级的精度。尽管在过去的几年里，我们见证了在实现这些量子技术目标方面取得的巨大进步，但我们还没有完全实现它们的承诺。该项目致力于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中等规模量子传感和量子通信技术的最有前途的技术之一。新墨西哥大学(UNM)和特拉华大学(UD)之间的这项跨司法管辖区的工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，以及它们与其他可以控制光如何分布或操纵的光子设备组件的集成。该项目包括(1)通过设立助学金培养国家研究需求关键领域的学生人才，使学生能够在这一领域进行研究；(2)在特拉华大学(UD)最近建立的新项目的基础上，在新墨西哥大学(UNM)建立量子科学与工程研究生项目。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类型平台上实现设备。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，而另一些机构则专注于演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)之间建立跨司法管辖区的努力，以实现可扩展量子光子学技术的基础计划。这项工作的智力重点包括：(1)以综合方法克服目前阻碍可扩展量子光子材料和器件平台开发的位置和光谱不均匀性挑战；(2)协调努力开发和探索2D和III-V材料中的量子发射体，包括第一原理计算、材料合成和量子发射体表征；(3)开发光子器件元件，包括等离子体、用于光子转换的克尔微谐振器和超导单光子探测器；(4)利用联合国大学和UD的互补专业知识，将光子器件组件与量子发射体材料集成在一起。这种集成将用于演示a)位置确定的量子发射到光子器件元件中，b)调谐或转换单光子波长以克服光谱不均匀的能力，以及c)单光子的全芯片确定性产生、布线和检测。项目计划包括强有力的教育和劳动力发展计划，包括实施新的研究生学位计划，以满足“量子劳动力”所需的技能，这些计划将培训下一代量子光电子技术方面的领导者。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 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.