QuIC – TAQS: Interconnected superconducting and color center qubits in silicon devices

量子技术，类似于它们的经典对应技术，将通过组合包含量子处理器、存储单元和用于远距离通信的光链路的模块来构建。当远距离联网时，这些模块将使包括远程安全通信、分布式量子计算和安全访问云量子计算机在内的应用能够以确保用户完全隐私的方式实现。要实现这种“量子互联网”，一个关键的缺失因素是能够在这类模块之间转换量子信息的单元。该项目基于超导电路和固体中的原子状缺陷，开发了领先的固态量子计算和存储平台之间的互连。它推动了微制造的电气、声学和光学器件的发展，使超导量子处理器和硅中的单原子存储器之间能够进行量子态转换。通过使用微细加工的硅器件，这种方法可能导致在量子技术和互连方面采用先进的半导体制造技术。除了研究，私人投资机构还通过开发新的量子网络K-12扩展模块、支持本科生研究职位和建立新的研究生课程，培训学生并增加对新兴量子工程领域的参与。该项目为结合超导量子处理器终端节点和在较高温度下运行的色心量子中继器节点的量子网络架构开发构建块。超导电路虽然是量子处理器的领跑者，但缺乏光学接口，必须在超低温下工作。这使得它们成为大规模量子网络中的稀缺资源。该项目开发了模块化的微波-光量子换能器，将超导电路与硅中的光学光子和色心量子比特互连。它将最近发现的硅中的色心量子比特集成到硅光子器件中，以开发可以在更高温度下运行的实用中继器节点。微波-光学量子换能器和量子发射器都是在基于绝缘体上硅的集成电光机械器件平台上开发的。PI正在利用这个集成设备平台来研究通过不可区分的光子检测和相干单声子交换在超导量子比特和色心量子比特之间产生纠缠的片上和片外方法，并为这样一个异质量子网络优化协议。这种方法建立在硅器件的基础上，硅器件是大规模制造电子和光子器件的理想材料平台，可以互连领先的固态量子比特平台。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 technologies, similar to their classical counterparts, will be built by combining modules containing quantum processors, memory units, and optical links for long-distance communication. When networked over long distances, these modules will enable applications including long-distance secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and secure access to cloud quantum computers in a way that guarantees complete privacy to the user. A critical missing ingredient for the realization of such a ‘quantum internet’ is units that can convert quantum information between such modules. This project develops interconnects between leading solid-state quantum computing and memory platforms based on superconducting circuits and atom-like defects in solids. It advances microfabricated electrical, acoustic, and optical devices to enable quantum state conversion between superconducting quantum processors and single-atom memories in silicon. By using microfabricated silicon devices, this approach could lead to the adoption of advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques in quantum technologies and interconnects. In addition to the research, the PIs are training students and increasing participation in the emerging field of quantum engineering by developing new K-12 outreach modules on quantum networks, supporting undergraduate research positions, and establishing new graduate courses. This project develops building blocks for a quantum network architecture combining superconducting quantum processor end nodes and color-center quantum repeater nodes operating at higher temperatures. Superconducting circuits, while frontrunners as quantum processors, lack an optical interface and have to operate at ultralow temperatures. This makes them a scarce resource in a large-scale quantum network. This project develops modular microwave-to-optical quantum transducers to interconnect superconducting circuits with optical photons and color center qubits in silicon. It integrates recently discovered color center qubits in silicon into silicon photonic devices to develop practical repeater nodes that can operate at higher temperatures. The microwave-to-optical quantum transducers and the quantum emitters are both developed on an integrated electro-opto-mechanical device platform based on silicon-on-insulator. The PIs are using this integrated device platform to investigate on-chip and off-chip methods of entanglement generation between superconducting qubits and color center qubits via indistinguishable photon detection and coherent single phonon exchange, and optimizing protocols for such a heterogeneous quantum network. This approach builds on silicon devices, the ideal material platform for fabricating electronic and photonic devices at scale, to interconnect leading solid-state qubit platforms.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.