EAGER: Quantum Manufacturing: Enabling Integrated Quantum Network Nodes

这个早期概念探索研究补助金(AGER)量子制造项目解决了使用集成光网络将本地量子计算机联网的挑战。目前，量子计算机仅限于纯本地计算，类似于没有互联网的计算机。此外，用于经典信息的光纤通信基础设施不适合用于量子信息。该项目专注于解决材料和集成挑战，使该团队能够制造可扩展的量子光网络节点，从而向建立量子互联网迈出关键一步。为了量子光网络节点的成功，它们必须将控制和操纵光的高质量光学设备与存储脆弱量子信息的本地元件统一起来。研究小组将利用半导体生长的最新进展，将这两项不同任务所需的材料整合在一起。利用集成材料，可以在洁净室中制造光学器件。这些设备将与本地量子态进行通信，研究团队将对系统的性能进行基准测试。作为这一努力的一部分，该团队将包括量子制造研究的本科生和研究生，从而培养一支准备迎接新兴量子技术挑战的劳动力队伍。该团队还将帮助招聘工程学女学生和来自目前工程学代表不足的群体的学生。研究团队将利用在碳化硅衬底上生长的氮化铝晶体之间的晶体外延，在氮化铝量子光学平台上创建碳化硅。碳化硅将以硅空位中心的形式承载光学活跃的自旋量子比特。这将耦合到氮化物基光波导、腔、调制器和非线性光学元件，以实现量子网络节点的所有必要方面。这项研究将涉及材料生长和光学结构制造，目标是解决可扩展量子网络节点的关键瓶颈。研究小组将表征这些结构的光学和自旋性能，从而为可扩展的量子网络扫清道路。教育计划将包括本科生和研究生研究，招收女性和代表性不足的工程学学生，以及课程开发。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。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Quantum Manufacturing project tackles the challenge of networking local quantum computers using integrated optical networks. Currently, quantum computers are limited to purely local computation, analogous to computers without an internet. Additionally, optical fiber communication infrastructure that works for classical information is not suitable for quantum information. This project focuses on solving materials and integration challenges that will enable the team to fabricate scalable nodes of a quantum optical network, thus making a key step toward establishing a quantum internet. For quantum optical network nodes to succeed, they must unify high-quality optical devices that control and manipulate light with local elements that store the fragile quantum information. The research team will integrate the materials needed for these two distinct tasks by taking advantage of recent advances in semiconductor growth. With the integrated materials, the optical devices can be fabricated in a cleanroom. These devices will communicate with local quantum states, and the research team will benchmark the performance of the system. As part of this effort, the team will include undergraduate and graduate students in quantum manufacturing research, thus developing a workforce prepared for the challenges of emerging quantum technologies. The team will also aid in the recruitment of female engineering students and students from groups that are currently under-represented in engineering.The research team will create a silicon carbide on aluminum nitride quantum optical platform, taking advantage of the crystalline epitaxy between aluminum nitride crystals grown on silicon carbide substrates. The silicon carbide will host optically active spin qubits in the form of silicon vacancy centers. This will be coupled to nitride-based optical waveguides, cavities, modulators, and nonlinear optical elements to enable all necessary aspects of quantum network nodes. The research will involve materials growth and optical structure fabrication with the goals of solving the critical bottleneck of scalable quantum network nodes. The research team will characterize the optical and spin performance of these structures, thus clearing the way for scalable quantum networks. The education plan will include undergraduate and graduate research, recruitment of female and under-represented engineering students, and course development.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.