Physics and Applications of Quantum Nanophotonics Systems

最近，一些智力和技术上的进步导致了物理科学的新纪元，它将根据量子力学规则对物理系统进行受控操纵带到了中心舞台。这些进展创造了一个跨学科的研究领域，涵盖从量子信息理论、量子光学和原子物理到介观物理、纳米科学和工程等领域。这项研究计划旨在探索量子光学和纳米科学交界处受控量子系统的基本物理和潜在应用。该计划涉及理论和实验之间的相互作用，以及对量子信息处理和通信前沿的潜在应用进行调查。该奖项由以下四个部门和两个部门的NSF项目共同支持：原子、分子和光学物理(理论和实验)；量子信息科学；电子和光子材料；电子学、光子学和磁性设备；以及化学测量和成像。这项研究是基于研究人员实验室前几年的几项主要进展。其中包括实现单个捕获原子的大型阵列，使用捕获在光子晶体附近的单个原子和集成的钻石纳米光子学平台实现量子网络节点，以及探索二维半导体材料中的新的光学发射器家族。具体地说，纳米光子结构中的量子光学物理的工作将旨在探索耦合到亚波长维度的光子的量子发射器阵列，并在此类系统中创建、控制和探索大规模纠缠态。该项目将特别强调探索用于量子网络的可扩展系统。这些研究包括研究使用真实、有损耗的光纤进行长距离量子通信的技术，以及探索量子网络的新应用。理论研究将集中在强相互作用光子和原子的量子动力学，重点是利用相干和耗散机制来控制量子多体状态，并研究新的应用。除了支持项目本身的实验工作外，理论工作还将为新的研究项目和方向提供“种子”。这一奖项反映了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。

A number of intellectual and technical advances have recently resulted in a new era of the physical sciences that brings to the center stage the controlled manipulation of physical systems according to the rules of quantum mechanics. These advances have created an interdisciplinary research area that encompasses fields ranging from quantum information theory, quantum optics and atomic physics to mesoscopic physics, nanoscience and engineering. This research program is aimed at exploring fundamental physics and potential applications of controlled quantum systems at the interface of quantum optics and nanoscience. The program involves the interplay between theory and experiment as well as investigation of potential applications at the frontier of quantum information processing and communication. This award is supported jointly by the following NSF Programs that span four Divisions and two Directorates: Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics (Theory and Experiment); Quantum Information Science; Electronic and Photonic Materials; Electronics, Photonics, and Magnetic Devices; and Chemical Measurement and Imaging. The research is based on several major advances from prior years in the researcher's labs. These include implementation of large arrays of individual trapped atoms, realization of quantum network nodes using both individual atoms trapped near photonic crystals and an integrated diamond nanophotonics platform, and exploration of a new family of optical emitters in two-dimensional semiconductor materials. Specifically, the work on quantum optical physics in nanophotonic structures will be aimed at exploring arrays of quantum emitters coupled to photons confined to sub-wavelength dimensions, and creating, controlling and exploring large-scale entangled states in such systems. The project will specifically emphasize the exploration of scalable systems for quantum networking. The studies include investigation of techniques for quantum communication over long distances using realistic, lossy optical fibers, as well as exploration of new applications of quantum networks. The theoretical research will focus on quantum dynamics of strongly interacting photons and atoms with emphasis on using coherent and dissipative mechanisms to control quantum many-body states and studies of novel applications. In addition to supporting the project’s own experimental efforts, the theoretical work will provide “seeds” for new research projects and directions.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.