CAREER: Scalable quantum photonics based on color center integration with angle-etched silicon carbide devices

量子技术有望进一步加深我们对自然基本现象的理解，并为强大的计算和安全通信提供前所未有的基础设施。虽然量子系统的物理实现有许多竞争者，但有两个理想的特性脱颖而出。首先，基于光的解决方案得益于远距离连接的优势；其次，固态平台支持有利的设备扩展。本提案探讨了这两种范式的交集：半导体中的光学活性缺陷，称为色心。更具体地说，该项目的技术部分旨在解决将色心集成到纳米光子器件中的一个具有挑战性的问题，从而提高量子硬件性能，用于量子通信，计算和模拟。该项目的教育影响对于培养包容性量子劳动力具有重要意义。加州大学戴维斯分校和约洛县的不同学生群体将获得接触量子光子项目的机会，从而扩大学生接受STEM职业培训的渠道。在这里，PI和她的团队将创建一个交互式量子教育软件，在当地青年俱乐部和一所高中组织外展活动，并将实践研究模块整合到她在加州大学戴维斯分校的量子信息技术研究生课程中。本提案将色心与纳米光子器件集成在工业成熟的碳化硅（SiC）衬底上，用于量子通信、计算和模拟。为了开发高性能的量子光学器件，将设计新的制造方法来支持SiC的角度蚀刻。该计划利用了PI的量子纳米光子学专业知识，在她的实验室建立的最先进的低温光谱装置，以及加州大学戴维斯分校纳米和微制造中心（CNM2）独特的洁净室能力。将设计新的制造方法，以支持SiC的角度蚀刻和实现高性能的4H-SiC光子器件。该装置将与氮空位（NV）色中心集成，用于探索量子光的产生和腔量子电动力学。光子设计、表征和实验将在加州大学戴维斯分校的PI实验室进行，而制造过程的开发将由CNM2的工作人员协助。新一代碳化硅光子器件的发展将对量子光子学领域产生革命性的影响。包含量子发射器的悬置三角形SiC器件将是同类器件中的第一个，可实现高保真量子操作，并将色心光子应用于长距离光纤量子通信和基于测量的量子计算。多发射极腔量子电动力学系统的研究将为片上量子模拟探索新的途径。该项目开发的器件也将对量子和经典光子学、光力学、基于色心的传感和生物光子学的基础和应用方面产生影响。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum technologies promise to further our understanding of nature’s fundamental phenomena, as well as to provide unprecedented infrastructure for powerful computation and safe communication. While there is a multitude of contenders for physical implementation of quantum systems, two desired properties stand out. First, the light-based solutions benefit from the advantage of long-distance connectivity; and second, the solid-state platforms support advantageous device scaling. This proposal explores the intersection of these two paradigms: optically active defects in semiconductors, called color centers. More specifically, the technical part of the project aims to solve a challenging problem of integrating color centers into nanophotonic devices, thus improving the quantum hardware performance for applications in quantum communication, computation and simulation. The educational impact of the project is significant for the training of inclusive quantum workforce. The diverse student population of UC Davis and Yolo County will obtain exposure to quantum photonic programs, thus expanding the pipeline of students trained for STEM careers. Here, the PI and her team will create an interactive quantum educational software, organize outreach activities at a local youth club and a high school, and integrate hands-on research modules in her Quantum Information Technologies graduate course at UC Davis.This proposal addresses integration of color centers with nanophotonic devices in industrially mature substrate of silicon carbide (SiC) for applications in quantum communication, computation and simulation. In order to develop high-performing quantum optical devices, novel fabrication methods will be devised to support angle-etching of SiC. This plan capitalizes on the PI’s quantum nanophotonics expertise, the state-of-the-art cryogenic spectroscopy setup built in her lab, and the unique clean room capabilities of the UC Davis Center for Nano and Micro Manufacturing (CNM2). Novel fabrication methods will be devised to support angle-etching of SiC and realization of high-performing 4H-SiC photonic devices. The devices will be integrated with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers for exploration of quantum light generation and cavity quantum electrodynamics. Photonic design, characterization and experiments, will be performed in the PI’s lab at UC Davis, while the fabrication process development will be assisted by the CNM2 staff. The proposed development of a new generation of photonic devices in SiC will be transformative for the field of quantum photonics. Suspended triangular SiC devices incorporating quantum emitters will be the first of their kind and enable high fidelity quantum operations with color center photons applied in long distance fiber-based quantum communication and measurement-based quantum computing. Studies of multi-emitter cavity quantum electrodynamic systems will explore new approaches to on-chip quantum simulation. The devices developed in this project will also have an impact in the fundamental and applied aspects of quantum and classical photonics, optomechanics, color center-based sensing, and biophotonics.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.