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

加拿大-英国量子技术呼吁：开发基于微谐振器的高效、便携式、光纤集成光子平台

• 批准号: 556325-2020
• 负责人: Morandotti, Roberto
• 金额: $ 11.24万
• 依托单位: Institut national de la recherche scientifique
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=721514
• 关键词: Canada; UK; Quantum; Technologies; Call

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.

在重大技术进步、智能应用和互联网上传输的数据量不断增加的背景下，对可信数据安全方法的需求从未如此紧迫。这需要通过传统方法进行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，非常需要新颖的对策。量子密码学（quantum cryptography，QC）是一种利用粒子的量子特性进行数据加密的革命性方法，它通过量子密钥分发（quantum key distribution，QKD）来实现。光子平台在速度、传输距离和编码技术以及设备占用空间和功耗方面具有巨大优势。这些只有通过片上结构与光纤网络的集成策略才能实现。然而，这种设备在现实世界中的实现往往需要在成本和性能之间进行权衡。在拟议的项目中，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）实现高效的资源，（微谐振器）腔体系结构，用于产生经典和量子光; ii）量化源特性，例如效率、相干性等，以及使用所提出的源体系结构实现标准QKD协议;和iii）开发用于商业化的优化和紧凑的全光纤原型。设想的平台将利用光子的时间模式进行加密，可扩展到其他自由度。该提案受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训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和学术界从事职业生涯。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。