Time-frequency signal processing for quantum computation using standard telecommunications systems

使用基于量子物理的技术可以实现比经典对应技术更快、更强大的信息处理和计算。事实上，后者以单比特(0或1)编码信息，而量子技术可以使用d级系统(同时使用0、1和2…和d，更为人所知的是‘qudit’)。然而，用于量子技术的标准d级平台往往昂贵得令人望而却步，体积庞大，而且缺乏可扩展性。这项研究计划将专注于使用标准和廉价的片上/光纤电信基础设施来实现光量子信息处理算法，以及由时间和频率给出的可扩展和健壮的光子自由度。这将通过操纵PI最近演示的量子簇态(所谓的基于测量的量子计算所必需的)来实现。为了实现这一愿景，迫切需要一个基本组件(在当前的应用中需要，在加拿大其他地方没有)，即具有特殊损耗、带宽和驱动电压指标的铌酸锂电光调制器芯片系统，该系统在今年早些时候取得了突破性进展[自然562,101(2018)]。这些独特的性能特性将使复杂的非经典运算能够高效而强大地实现。反过来，这将促进量子算法(例如，与大数据等行业相关的格罗弗搜索算法)在可移植、可扩展技术中的实施。与我们的研究计划相关的好处有两个方面。它将为新的先进技术的发展铺平道路，同时促进高素质人员的培训，符合加拿大工业和社会的需求。

The use of technologies that are based on quantum physics allows for faster and more powerful information processing and computation than their classical counterparts. Indeed, while the latter encode information in single bits (either 0 or 1), quantum technologies can use a d-level system (simultaneously 0 and 1 and 2 … and d, better known as a ‘qudit'). However, standard d-level platforms for quantum technologies tend to be prohibitively expensive, bulky, and lack scalability. This research program will focus on the realization of optical quantum information processing algorithms using standard and inexpensive on chip/fiber telecommunications infrastructure, as well as the scalable and robust photon degrees of freedom given by time and frequency. This will be accomplished by manipulating the qudit cluster states (required for so-called ‘measurement-based' quantum computing) recently demonstrated by the PI. For this vision to become reality, a fundamental component (requested in the current application and not available elsewhere in Canada) is urgently needed, i.e. a lithium niobate electro-optic modulator chip system with exceptional loss, bandwidth, and driving voltage metrics, developed in a breakthrough earlier this year [Nature 562, 101 (2018)]. These unique performance characteristics will enable the efficient and powerful realization of complex non-classical operations. In turn, this will boost the implementation of quantum algorithms (e.g. Grover's search algorithm, relevant to sectors such as big data) in a portable, scalable technology. The benefits related to our research program are two-fold. It will pave the way for the development of new advanced technologies while promoting the training of highly-qualified personnel, consistently with the needs of both Canadian industry and society.