Efficient and practical quantum information processing enabled by advanced coherent control of on-chip optical frequency combs

量子力学可以为牢不可破的通信（例如，为金融交易、医疗和个人记录等提供绝对安全的网络）和强大的计算（例如，能够快速处理大量感官数据的平台）提供解决方案。然而，非经典系统的实现仍然具有挑战性，因为它在可扩展性、稳定性和功耗方面突破了当前技术的极限。竞争的方法（使用离子阱，自旋电子学，电子等）受到高成本，批量和/或需要在实验室控制条件下操作的影响，极大地限制了可访问的计算资源，并最终限制了现实世界应用的潜力。集成光子学越来越被认为是实现量子技术的一个实用的、可扩展的平台，因为它具有与光纤通信网络以及硅电子兼容的关键优势。然而，目前的片上量子电路只能生成和有效地处理量子比特（即二维状态），其占用空间随着问题的复杂性呈指数级增长。在这个项目中，来自INRS-EMT的大学研究人员与他们的工业合作伙伴（光电元件和加拿大的QPS Photronics）密切合作，将开发一种新颖、强大、稳定、相对低成本的平台，用于片上生成、操纵和处理光学quDits（即高维状态），其能力与通信、计算、传感等实际应用相一致。特别是，我们的方案将基于片上光学频率梳和广泛使用的光纤信号处理技术。我们的目标是演示开发的平台在高比特率量子随机数生成和基于光纤的量子增强灵敏度传感方面的应用，以符合我们的工业合作伙伴的具体利益。我们项目所产生的知识和技术以及高素质人才的培训将使加拿大在光子学和量子领域处于领先地位。************

Quantum mechanics can provide the solution for unbreakable communications (e.g., a network with absolute security for financial transactions, medical and personal records etc.) and powerful computing (e.g., a platform capable of quickly processing huge sensory data). However, the realization of non-classical systems remains challenging as it pushes the limits of current technology in terms of scalability, stability and power consumption. The competing approaches (using ion traps, spintronics, electrons etc.) suffer from a high-cost, bulk scale and/or the need for operation under lab-controlled conditions, dramatically restricting the accessible computational resources and ultimately, the potential for real-world applications. Integrated photonics is increasingly perceived as a practical, scalable platform for implementing quantum technology, as it has the key advantages of being compatible with fiber-optic communication networks as well as with silicon electronics. However, current on-chip quantum circuits generate and efficiently process only qubits (i.e. two-dimensional states), with a footprint exponentially increasing with the problem complexity. In this project, university researchers from INRS-EMT, working in close collaboration with their industrial partners (OptoElectronics Components, and QPS Photronics in Canada), will develop a novel, robust, stable, and relatively low-cost platform for on-chip generation, manipulation and processing of optical quDits (i.e. high-dimensional states), with capabilities consistent with practical applications in communications, computing, sensing etc. In particular, our scheme will be based on on-chip optical frequency combs and the use of widely accessible fiber-optic signal processing techniques. We will target the demonstration of applications of the developed platform for high-bit-rate quantum random number generation, and fiber-based sensing with quantum-enhanced sensitivity, in line with the specific interests of our industrial partners. The know-how and technology to be generated from our project and the training of highly-qualified personnel will place Canada in a leading position in both the photonics and quantum fields.************