CAREER: Coherent Control, Measurement, and Entanglement of Single T-Center Qubits

量子网络可以通过启用更大的量子计算机和支持全新类型的通信来提高安全性和未来的经济增长。然而，确定具有构建量子网络所需的所有光学和量子特性的特定组件和系统仍然具有挑战性。开发该技术的一个有前途的平台是利用晶体材料中的原子尺度缺陷。要探索的一种相对新颖的固态缺陷被称为硅中的T中心缺陷。本研究项目旨在分析单个T中心的光学和自旋特性，并开发量子光学方法，使其能够有效地操纵和控制，从而实现基于T中心的量子网络节点。关于T中心的基本性质的知识和开发与它们接口的方法将有助于推动基于固体自旋的量子信息处理研究的科学前沿，以及量子网络的技术进步。该项目还旨在通过整合全面的教育和研究组成部分，如新的量子课程、顶点研究项目和夏季reu，为研究生和本科生（包括来自代表性不足群体的学生）培养未来量子产业的多元化劳动力。该团队还将组织面向当地高中生的外展活动，以激发他们对量子科学的兴趣。光接口固态自旋为量子信息处理和量子网络应用提供了一个有前途的平台。此外，利用电信波长的光操纵固态自旋将促进利用现有电信光纤网络的大规模量子网络。该项目将探索如何通过电信波段的光学跃迁来控制硅中的T中心，并展示各种量子网络协议和应用的长自旋相干时间。该团队将分析单个T中心的光学和自旋特性，并开发其相干控制、测量和纠缠产生的新方法。这项工作的核心是将单T中心与低损耗硅光子腔集成在一起，以增强光与物质的相互作用。该小组将采用腔辅助相互作用来探索高保真自旋读出和t中心自旋自旋相互作用，以及自旋光子纠缠的产生。这项工作将为利用硅中的T中心构建电信量子网络节点和未来用于远距离量子网络的量子中继器奠定基础。该项目开发的方法将影响包括量子光学、量子信息、量子通信和材料科学在内的研究领域。该项目与教育组件相结合，这将使学生在光子学，材料工程和量子科学方面获得先进的跨学科培训。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。

A quantum network could be used to improve security and future economic growth by enabling larger quantum computers, and by supporting fundamentally new types of communication. However, identifying specific components and systems with all the requisite optical and quantum properties for building a quantum network remains challenging. One promising platform for developing this technology uses atomic scale defects in crystalline materials. A relatively novel solid-state defect to explore is known as a T center defect in silicon. This research project aims to analyze the optical and spin properties of single T centers and develop quantum optics methods to enable their efficient manipulation and control, towards the realization of T-center-based quantum network nodes. The knowledge gained about the fundamental properties of T centers and the methods developed to interface with them will help to push forward the scientific frontier of solid-state spin-based quantum information processing research, as well as the technical advancement of quantum networking. The project also aims to train a diverse workforce for the future quantum industry, by incorporating comprehensive education and research components, such as the new quantum curriculum, capstone research projects and summer REUs, for graduate and undergraduate students including those from underrepresented groups. The team will also organize outreach activities to local high school students to invigorate their interest in quantum science.Optically interfaced solid-state spins provide a promising platform for quantum information processing and quantum networking applications. Furthermore, manipulating solid-state spins with light at telecom wavelengths will facilitate large-scale quantum networks that leverage existing telecommunication fiber networks. This project will explore how T centers in silicon can be controlled with telecom band optical transitions and demonstrate long spin coherence times for various quantum networking protocols and applications. This team will analyze optical and spin properties of single T centers and develop new methods for their coherent control, measurement, and entanglement generation. Central to this effort is integrating single T centers with low-loss silicon photonic cavities to enhance light-matter interactions. The group will employ cavity-assisted interactions to explore high-fidelity spin readout and T-center spin-spin interactions, as well as spin-photon entanglement generation. The work will lay a foundation for using T centers in silicon to build telecom quantum network nodes and future quantum repeaters for long-distance quantum networks. Methods developed in this project will impact research fields including quantum optics, quantum information, quantum communication, and materials science. The project is integrated with education components, which will allow students to gain advanced and interdisciplinary training in photonics, materials engineering, and quantum science.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.