QII-TAQS: Quantum Circuits Through Symmetry-Driven Valley Optoelectronics

量子信息科学旨在使通信、计算和传感技术发生根本性变革。然而，为了实现这一目标，需要探索利用量子力学独特性质的新材料和器件，并将其无缝集成到一个共同的平台上。在这个项目中，研究人员将利用极薄量子材料的新特性，并使用光来创建精确的量子态来编码、传输和检测信息，并演示概念验证量子电路。其目标是在一个集成平台上通过精密工程材料演示系统量子力学状态的产生、操作、传输和检测。如果成功，这将使下一代量子电路在未来可能驱动量子计算机。该研究项目的跨学科性质将为培养研究生和本科生提供极好的教育机会，并为他们在量子技术主导的未来做好准备。研究人员将利用层状2D量子材料的谷极化特性及其与光腔耦合的异质结构来创建精确的量子叠加态，以编码、操作、传输和检测强耦合激子-极化子中的信息，以演示概念验证量子电路。在逃离系统时，强耦合的谷度自由度的极化子将产生反映系统内部量子态的偏振光子，然后这些光子将被进一步操纵，并通过通过量子对称范例设计的路由器在芯片上路由到不同的端口。该团队将利用具有工程量子对称性的量子材料的特性，组装对相干谷叠加态的光子偏振态敏感的光电探测器，用于芯片上检测。该跨学科项目将涉及探索新兴的量子和拓扑材料及其与集成光子学技术的异质集成，以实现下一代量子光子电路。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 science aims to radically revolutionize technologies in communication, computing, and sensing. However, to achieve this goal, new materials and devices that utilize the unique properties of quantum mechanics need to be explored and seamlessly integrated on a common platform. In this project, the investigators will exploit the novel properties of extremely thin quantum materials and use light to create precise quantum states to encode, transmit, and detect information and to demonstrate proof-of-concept quantum circuits. The goal is to demonstrate the generation, manipulation, transmission, and detection of quantum mechanical states of a system via precisely engineered materials on an integrated platform. If successful, this will enable the next generation of quantum circuits that may drive quantum computers in the future. The interdisciplinary nature of the research program will provide an excellent educational opportunity for training graduate and undergraduate students and prepare them for a future dominated by quantum technologies.The investigators will exploit the valley polarization properties of layered 2D quantum materials and their heterostructures coupled to optical cavities to create precise quantum superposition states to encode, manipulate, transmit, and detect information in strongly coupled exciton-polaritons to demonstrate proof-of-concept quantum circuits. The strongly-coupled valley degree of freedom-based polaritons when escaping the system will produce photons with polarization reflecting the internal quantum state of the system, which will then be further manipulated and routed on-chip to different ports through routers designed via quantum symmetry paradigms. The team will utilize the properties of quantum materials with engineered quantum symmetries to assemble photodetectors that are sensitive to the polarization state of the photons from the coherent valley superposition states for on-chip detection. The interdisciplinary project will involve the exploration of emerging quantum and topological materials and their heterogeneous integration with integrated photonics technology to enable the next generation of quantum photonic circuits.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.