Developing a photonic interface for superconducting quantum processors

与经典的二进制计算相比，量子计算机具有解决特定算法的潜力，使我们能够更好地模拟复杂系统，速度和精度都有所提高。归根结底，需要有一个与外部经典世界的连接，或者是一种连接量子计算机以实现网络功能的方法。基于超导电路的量子处理器必须冷却到低温，将量子比特隔离在受控的量子状态，因此在建立物理互连方面存在重大技术挑战。这里提出的解决方案是，它将实现一个光接口，允许以最小的热负载从低温环境传输数据；此外，光子电路适合高速调制，单位能量成本较低。本研究项目的主要内容是设计、制造和测试超导量子处理器的光学接口。学生将有一个令人兴奋的机会与行业赞助商SEEQC密切合作，SEEQC正在努力为全球企业提供一个商业可扩展且经济高效的数字量子计算平台。

Quantum computers have the potential to solve specific algorithms allowing us to better simulate complex systems at increased speed and accuracy compared with classical binary computing. Ultimately, there needs to be a connection to the outside 'classical' world or a means to interface quantum computers for networking functionality. Quantum processors based on superconducting circuitry must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures, isolating qubits in a controlled quantum state, and therefore posses a major technical challenge for establishing a physical interconnect. The solution proposed here, it to implement an optical interface that would allow data transfer from a low-temperature environment with minimal thermal load; additionally, photonic circuits lend themselves to high-speed modulation with low energy cost per bit. The outline of this research project is to design, fabricate and test an optical interface for superconducting quantum processors. The student will have an exciting opportunity to work closely with the industry sponsor SEEQC, who are working to deliver a commercially scalable and cost-effective digital quantum computing platform for global businesses.