Engineering Photonic Quantum Technologies

The description of the laws of quantum mechanics saw a transformation in society's understanding of the physical world-for the first time we understood the rules that govern the counterintuitive domain of the very small. Rather than being just passive observers now scientists are using these laws to their advantage and quantum phenomena are providing us with methods of improved measurement and communication; furthermore they promise a revolution in the way materials are simulated and computations are performed. Over the last decade significant progress has been made in the application of quantum phenomena to meeting these challenges.
This "Engineering Photonic Quantum Technologies" Programme Grant goes significantly beyond previous achievements in the quantum technology field. Through a series of carefully orchestrated work packages that develop the underlying materials, systems engineering, and theory we will develop the knowledge and skills that enable us to create application demonstrators with significant academic and societal benefit. For the first time in quantum technologies we are combining materials and device development and experimental work with the important theoretical considerations of architectures and fault tolerant approaches. Our team of investigators and partners have the requisite expertise in materials, individual components, their integration, and the underpinning theory that dictates the optimal path to achieving the programme goals in the presence of real-world constraints.
Through this programme we will adopt the materials systems most capable of providing application specific solutions in each of four technology demonstrations focused on quantum communications, quantum enhanced sensing, the construction of a multiplexed single-photon source and information processing systems that outperform modern classical analogues. To achieve this, our underlying technology packages will demonstrate very low optical-loss waveguides which will be used to create the necessary 'toolbox' of photonic components such as splitters, delays, filters and switches. We will integrate these devices with superconducting and semiconducting single-photon detector systems and heralded single-photon sources to create an integrated source+circuit+detector capability that becomes the basis for our technology demonstrations. We address the challenge of integrating these optical elements (in the necessary low-temperature environment) with the very low latency classical electronic control systems that are required of detection-and-feedforward schemes such as multiplexed photon-sources and cluster-state generation and computation. At all times a thorough analysis of the performance of all these elements informs our work on error modelling and fault tolerant designs; these then inform all aspects of the technology demonstrators from inception, through decisions on the optimal materials choices for a system, to the layout of a circuit on a wafer.
With these capabilities we will usher in a disruptive transformation in ICT. We will demonstrate mutli-node quantum key distribution (QKD) networks, high-bit rate QKD systems with repeaters capable of spanning unlimited distances. Our quantum enhanced sensing will surpass the classical shot noise limit and see the demonstration of portable quantum-enhanced spectroscopy system. And our quantum information processors will operate with 10-qubits in a fault tolerant scheme which will provide the roadmap to 1,000 qubit cluster state computing architectures.

Quantum information science has seen an explosion of activity in fundamental research worldwide fuelled by the promise of profoundly disruptive communication, sensing and computing technologies. However, translation into tangible economic or societal benefits has been slow due to the absence of the type of focussed effort proposed here-one that takes an integrated approach to developing all the necessary science and technology and shifts the focus firmly into the ICT domain. This programme grant will have impact on society, industry, academia and the economy-we will use it as a focal point for engaging with government, industry and academic collaborators.
The UK is a world leader in the academic pursuit of quantum information science and is well placed to become the world leader in quantum information technologies. It has high growth, high technology businesses capable of taking up and developing new disruptive technologies to create new high value markets. If just one commercially viable QT emerges from this programme, it will bring tremendous enabling benefits to the UK and is likely to spur further technological development in this area.
Discussions with our industry partners during the design of this programme have made it clear how they see a quantum industry developing over the next 5-10 years. Our partners will provide access to state-of-the-art facilities (BAE Systems, IBM, Oclaro), co-design, develop and benchmark technology demonstrators (DSTL, Google, Nokia) and advise us on the most compelling directions with the maximum potential for commercial impact (all partners). They will work with us to ensure that devices and systems are designed in manufacturable and affordable ways that meet the needs of end users and markets. In addition to inputs through our Industrial Advisory Board, we will work closely with industry partners through annual workshops, technical meetings and (where it contributes to the research or impact achievement of the programme's objectives) two-way secondments.
We aim for the first technological outputs of this programme to reach commercial maturity within 5 years (handheld QKD), with commercialisation of more advanced QTs thereafter. In this programme we will focus on strengthening our links with future exploiters of QT, including those in the silicon design cluster in the Bristol-Bath region. We will pursue entrepreneurial and start-up activity with Set Squared, Imperial Innovations incubators, the Bristol-Bath science park, and The Engine Shed 'hot house'. CQP's Commercial Director will be responsible for working with these partners and investors to secure commercial funding. Early identification and protection of intellectual property will be a crucial-the Project Management Group will be responsible and will be assisted by the Universities' Research and Enterprise Offices and the CQP's Commercial Director. The University of Bristol has recognised the importance of protecting CQP's IP: they recently provided additional funding (£120k 2013-16) for this purpose. We will use this funding to ensure that the IP arising from this grant is protected for maximal impact.
An Impact Group (Project Manager, CQP Commercial Director, representatives from the Universities' Public Engagement Teams and Enterprise Offices, a member of the Industry and Academic Advisory Boards and two of the PDRAs) will meet quarterly and will be responsible for updating the programme's impact strategy as new opportunities arise. By the end of this Programme Grant we expect to have a substantial IP portfolio with >10 patents; at least 3 products licensed to industry partners; a spin out company developing one of the demonstrators; at least >50 publications in high impact journals; several exhibits, including a Royal Society summer exhibition and an annual exhibition at the British Science Association Science Festival.