Integrated Quantum Frequency Combs for Cluster States Generation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Inst of Photonics
Abstract
Quantum computing, once a purely theoretical dream, is becoming a reality. The last two years - 2019 and 2020 - have seen the first demonstrations of quantum advantage, that is, quantum computers performing tasks that cannot be solved by any classical supercomputer in a reasonable time. Among the competing technologies, photonics and superconducting circuits are the only two that reached quantum advantage. In both cases, the challenge ahead is scalability: the current quantum machines can only process a limited number of quantum bits, limiting their application to the solution of proof-of-concept problems.
This project aims to develop a highly complex quantum state, called cluster state, that underpins a scalable approach to photonic quantum computing. Such a state, to be useful, must live on miniaturised components fabricated by a mature technology that supports scalability with increased complexity and commercial viability. Integrated photonics satisfies both these requirements. It can count on a large selection of tools and devices developed during the last forty years for telecommunications and data processing and employs the latest technologies that connect classical computers.
This project will use the latest discoveries and technologies of integrated photonics for realising the generation of the aforementioned cluster states on-chip.
One of the more recent and striking successes of integrated photonics is the realisation of frequency combs on-chip (microcombs). Frequency combs, electromagnetic fields composed by many equidistant frequencies (light colours), are a powerful resource for metrology and spectroscopy. Their miniaturisation via integrated photonics transformed them from cumbersome bulk systems to few millimetres squared chips, making integrated frequency combs one of the most promising photonic technologies.
Frequency combs feature thousands to millions of modes and land themselves naturally to host the cluster states required for scalable quantum computation. To transform an integrated frequency comb into a cluster state all its frequency modes must be entangled, that is, sharing the same quantum state. Here, I propose a research programme that tackles this very problem: generating an integrated cluster state based on frequency combs.
The research developed in this proposal will disclose the potential of integrated quantum frequency combs for quantum computing. This will boost a number of applications identified as strategic by the UK Government and Research Councils such as clock synchronisation and the deployment of quantum technologies.
This project aims to develop a highly complex quantum state, called cluster state, that underpins a scalable approach to photonic quantum computing. Such a state, to be useful, must live on miniaturised components fabricated by a mature technology that supports scalability with increased complexity and commercial viability. Integrated photonics satisfies both these requirements. It can count on a large selection of tools and devices developed during the last forty years for telecommunications and data processing and employs the latest technologies that connect classical computers.
This project will use the latest discoveries and technologies of integrated photonics for realising the generation of the aforementioned cluster states on-chip.
One of the more recent and striking successes of integrated photonics is the realisation of frequency combs on-chip (microcombs). Frequency combs, electromagnetic fields composed by many equidistant frequencies (light colours), are a powerful resource for metrology and spectroscopy. Their miniaturisation via integrated photonics transformed them from cumbersome bulk systems to few millimetres squared chips, making integrated frequency combs one of the most promising photonic technologies.
Frequency combs feature thousands to millions of modes and land themselves naturally to host the cluster states required for scalable quantum computation. To transform an integrated frequency comb into a cluster state all its frequency modes must be entangled, that is, sharing the same quantum state. Here, I propose a research programme that tackles this very problem: generating an integrated cluster state based on frequency combs.
The research developed in this proposal will disclose the potential of integrated quantum frequency combs for quantum computing. This will boost a number of applications identified as strategic by the UK Government and Research Councils such as clock synchronisation and the deployment of quantum technologies.
Publications
Anderson S
(2024)
Single-frequency optical parametric oscillator intracavity-pumped by a visible VECSEL for low-noise down-conversion to 1.55 µm
in Optics Express
Khodadad Kashi A
(2023)
Spectral Hong-Ou-Mandel Effect between a Heralded Single-Photon State and a Thermal Field: Multiphoton Contamination and the Nonclassicality Threshold.
in Physical review letters
Shields T
(2022)
Electro-Optical Sampling of Single-Cycle THz Fields with Single-Photon Detectors.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Description | BEIS UK's Strengths in Quantum Technologies Research Workshop |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | A PAckageD source of Multiplexed Entangled photons (PADME) |
Amount | £384,072 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 10031438 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2022 |
End | 04/2024 |
Description | Contribution to PhD scholarship on Photonics Integrated Quantum Computing |
Amount | £36,800 (GBP) |
Organisation | Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 04/2026 |
Description | Generation of entAngLement for quAntum seCure mulTIparty Computation (Canada UK Commercialising Quantum Technology Programme: CR&D) |
Amount | £515,142 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 10077950 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2023 |
End | 08/2025 |
Description | Silicon core fibres: extending the reach of nonlinear fibre systems |
Amount | £927,721 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/Y008421/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2024 |
End | 02/2027 |
Description | New collaboration with university of Southampton |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Department | Optoelectronics Research Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Shared our expertise on the application of quantum states of light |
Collaborator Contribution | Shared their expertise on nonlinear generation in Silicon Core Fibres |
Impact | Submission of a joint fund application to EPSRC (with Anna Peacock and Radan Slavik, ORC) |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | EPSRC Physical Science Team Visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Participated in the EPSRC Physical Science Team Visit at Strathclyde and lab tour at the Institute of Photonics laboratories |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Talk Fraunhofer CAP's 10th Anniversary |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I was invited to present my research on integrated photonics quantum computing and future directions at the Fraunhofer CAP's 10th Anniversary, held in Glasgow, on January 26th. The event, for celebrating FhCAP 10th anniversary, was attendedn by a number of industry staff, stakeholders, policy makers and academicd. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Talk at the Optical Frequency Combs Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The workshop brought together leading researchers in the field of optical frequency comb science and technology to discuss its fundamentals, applications, and future opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://events.astonphotonics.uk/comb2022/ |