Quantum frequency combs on a chip for encrypted communication and fast computation

专家预测，在不久的将来，设备和环境监测器的大规模网络集成，除了对带宽的需求已经迅速增加外，还需要能够促进这种社会转型的技术：一个具有完美安全性和带宽可扩展性的互联网，可处理大量敏感数据（例如个人、健康或银行交易），以及处理这些“大数据”的高数据计算和处理能力。“目前的技术在功耗、数据处理能力和安全性方面将很快达到极限，最终无法满足这些需求。通过这个为期三年的战略项目，我们的目标是提供一个创新的解决方案，刚刚描述的问题，通过开发一个芯片上的“量子频率梳”，即一个电子兼容的多通道光源的非经典状态的光在一个芯片上，依靠现有的工业制造工艺和商业光子元件。拟议的研究将允许来自INRS-EMT和蒙特利尔大学的大学团队成员与他们的工业合作伙伴（QPS Photronics Inc.，OptoElectronicComponents Inc.），领导加拿大和国际努力，通过现有的光纤基础设施（称为量子密码系统）进行前所未有的（安全性和速度）数据传输，并为新的光子量子计算技术开发基本基石。该项目将通过实现量子密码学广泛使用所需的小型化，解决将量子技术“走出实验室”进入日常使用的问题。在这种情况下，我们设计的可扩展性和与集成波导结构相关的成熟技术是通过我们的工业合作伙伴成功商业化的理想先决条件。这一项目产生的新知识和与这项工作有关的高素质人员的培训将有助于提高加拿大在最先进的高技术部门的全球竞争力，使其能够抓住在以前的数字革命中错过的工业机会。

The mass network integration of devices and environmental monitors predicted for the near-future by experts,in addition to already rapidly increasing demands on bandwidth, will require technology that can facilitate andenable this social transition: an Internet with perfect security and bandwidth scalability for large amounts ofsensitive data (e.g. personal, health, or bank transactions), as well as the high data computing and processingpower to handle these "big data." Current technology will soon reach its limit with respect to powerconsumption, data handling capacity and security, in the end not being able to fulfill these demands. With thisthree year strategic project we aim to offer an innovative solution to the problems just described, by developingan on-chip "quantum frequency comb," i.e. an electronics-compatible multichannel source of nonclassicalstates of light on a chip, relying on available industrial fabrication processes and commercial photonicscomponents. The proposed research will allow the university team members from the INRS-EMT and theUniversity of Montreal, in collaboration with their industrial partners (QPS Photronics Inc., OptoElectronicComponents Inc.), to lead Canadian and international efforts in seeding unprecedented (in security and speed)data transfers via existing fiber optics infrastructures (known as quantum cryptographic systems) as well as thedevelopment of a fundamental cornerstone for a new photonic-based quantum computing technology. Theproject will address both the issue of bringing the quantum technology "out of the lab" into everyday use,through the miniaturization necessary for achieving widespread use of quantum cryptography. In this context,the scalability of our design and the mature technology associated with integrated waveguide structures is theideal prerequisite for a successful commercialization through our industrial partners. The new knowledgegenerated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel associated to this work will contributeto enhance Canada's global competitiveness in the most advanced high-technology sectors, allowing to graspthe industrial opportunities it missed in the previous digital revolution.