Integrated Quantum Photonics Based on Hybrid Superconductor-Semiconductor Nanostructures

量子光子技术将光的量子特性付诸实践。编码在单个光子上的信息不仅提供了增强通信安全性的新机会，而且还提供了执行传感、成像、计算和计量的全新方法。量子光子技术的最好例子是商业上可用的量子密钥分发系统，该系统潜在地增强了点对点光纤通信链路上的信息安全。预计在部署能够产生、检测、传输和处理单光子和纠缠多光子的先进光子设备后，这种系统将扩展到通信网络。 该方案探索了一种基于混合超导体-半导体结构的新的集成平台，该结构集成了按需单光子和纠缠光子源、单光子探测器和量子波导，以制造量子光子收发机。半导体纳米结构丰富的光学和电学性质将与超导体的量子相干特性相结合，以实现在芯片上处理光子的最佳整体效率和速度。 集成量子光子芯片通常包括嵌入在光波导中的半导体量子点，超导电极作为单光子和纠缠光子的源，三种不同类型的超导纳米线单光子探测器，以及将源连接到探测器的脊形半导体光波导。拟议的计划将解决此类结构的设计、模拟和制造方面的挑战，并提高量子传输器中光子产生和检测的效率、不可区分性和速度。 加拿大已将量子信息技术确定为未来发展的战略领域。人们对该计划寄予厚望，该计划将为这一重要部门提供完全集成的单光子和纠缠光子产生和探测技术进步，以及几名高素质的人员。

Quantum photonic technology puts the quantum properties of light into practical use. Information encoded on individual photons not only offers new opportunities to enhance the security of communication but also radically new ways to perform sensing, imaging, computation and metrology. The best example of quantum photonic technology is a commercially available quantum key distribution system that potentially enhances the security of information over a point-to-point fiber optic communication link. It is anticipated that such systems will be extended to communication networks upon deployment of advanced photonic devices capable of generation, detection, transmission and processing of single-photons and entangled multi-photons. This proposal explores a new integrated platform based on hybrid superconductor-semiconductor structures that integrate on-demand single and entangled photon sources, single photon detectors and quantum waveguides to make a quantum photonic transceiver. The rich optical and electronic properties of semiconductor nanostructures will be combined with the quantum coherency of superconductors to achieve the best overall efficiency and speed in processing of photons on a chip. Integrated quantum photonic chips are typically comprise semiconductor quantum dots embedded in an optical waveguide with superconducting electrodes as a source of single and entangled photons, three different types of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors and ridge semiconductor optical waveguides that connect sources to detectors. The proposed program will address challenges to the design, simulation and fabrication of such structures and enhance the efficiency, indistinguishability, and speed of photon generation and detection in quantum transcievers. Canada has identified quantum information technologies as strategic area for future development. It is highly expected that this program will deliver fully-integrated single and entangled photon generation and detection advances as well as several highly qualified personnel to this vital sector.