Canada-UK Quantum Technologies Call: Development of Highly Efficient, Portable, and Fiber-Integrated Photonic Platforms Based on Micro-Resonators

在重大技术进步、智能应用和通过互联网传输的数据量增加的背景下，对可信数据安全方法的需求从未像现在这样迫切。这需要通过传统方法实现高水平的计算复杂性，并且考虑到电子设备的可扩展性限制，需要新的对策。量子密码学（QC）是一种革命性的方法，它利用粒子的量子特性进行数据加密，通过量子密钥分发（QKD）提供了一种有前途的安全通信方法。光子平台在速度、传输距离、编码技术以及器件占地面积和功耗方面提供了巨大的优势。这些只有通过芯片结构与光纤网络的集成策略才能实现。然而，为现实世界的实现开发此类设备通常要求在成本和性能之间进行权衡。在提议的项目中，我们的目标是在我们的工业合作伙伴OEC的支持下实现三个主要目标：i)实现用于产生经典光和量子光的高效源（微谐振器）腔结构；ii)量化源属性，如效率、相干性等，并使用提议的源架构实施标准QKD协议；iii)开发一种优化的、紧凑的全纤维原型，用于商业化。设想中的平台将利用光子的时间模式进行加密，并可扩展到其他自由度。该提案得益于与英国学术和工业团队的成功合作，他们将同时实现用于开发微型原子钟的源架构。该项目的成果将通过培养集成光子学和器件设计跨学科领域的高素质人才使加拿大受益，从而使他们能够在工业界和学术界从事职业。发展最先进的量子技术是保持加拿大在信息技术和量子通信应用方面优势的关键。

In the context of major technological advances, smart applications, and an increased amount of data transmitted over the internet, the need for trusted data security approaches has never been more pressing. This requires high levels of computational complexity through traditional methods, and given the scalability limits of electronic devices, novel countermeasures are much in demand. A promising approach for secure communication is provided by quantum cryptography (QC), a revolutionary method which uses the quantum features of particles for data encryption, by means of quantum key distribution (QKD). Photonic platforms provide huge advantages in terms of speed, transmission distance, and encoding techniques, as well as device footprint and power consumption. These are only made possible via integration strategies of on-chip structures with fiber-optic networks. However, the development of such devices for real-world implementations often dictates a trade-off between cost and performance. In the proposed project, we aim, with the support of our industrial partner OEC, to achieve three primary objectives: i) realization of efficient source (micro-resonator) cavity architectures for the generation of classical and quantum light; ii) quantification of source properties such as efficiency, coherence, etc. and the implementation of standard QKD protocols using the proposed source architectures; and iii) development of an optimized and compact all-fiber prototype for commercialization. The envisioned platform will utilize the temporal modes of photons for encryption, scalable to other degrees of freedom. This proposal benefits from the successful collaboration with the UK academic and industrial teams, who will, in parallel, realize such source architectures for the development of miniature atomic clocks. The project outcomes will benefit Canada through the training of highly qualified personnel in the interdisciplinary fields of integrated photonics and device design, thus allowing them to pursue careers in both industry and academia. The development of state-of-the-art quantum technologies is key to maintaining Canada's edge in information technology and quantum communication applications.