Rochester Institute of Technology has been awarded $9.6 million to advance quantum chip technologies, focusing on scaling the power of quantum systems by entangling them across a photonic network. The project, led by Professor Stefan Preble, aims to develop a heterogeneous quantum network that links ion-based qubits and photonic-based qubits at high speed using photonic chips. This technology is necessary for improving processing power in critical information areas such as navigation, communication, and computation.
Partnering with top labs in academia and government, including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Yale University, Duke University, NY Creates, and AIM Photonics, the team will overcome current limitations of quantum networks by leveraging the advantages of different qubit types for specific functionalities. The project builds on previous work by Preble and colleagues, who produced a fully integrated quantum photonics wafer for the Department of Defense in 2020.
Advancing Quantum System Networking Initiatives with $9.6 Million Award
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has been awarded $9.6 million from the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) to advance quantum chip technologies, specifically focusing on scaling the power of quantum systems by entangling them across a photonic network. This four-year initiative, known as the Heterogeneous Quantum Networking project, aims to develop a heterogeneous quantum network that links ion-based qubits and photonic-based qubits at high speed using photonic chips.
The project partners, including RIT, Yale University, Duke University, NY Creates, AIM Photonics, and the Air Force Research Laboratory – Information Directorate, will work together to overcome current limitations of quantum networks. By building a network using a variety of qubits, the advantages of different types of qubits can be leveraged for their specific functionalities, such as processing, sensing, or storage.
Overcoming Limitations of Quantum Networks
Currently, single types of qubits have been networked together, but the overall performance has been limited. By developing a heterogeneous quantum network, the project team aims to overcome these limitations and enable different qubit types to work together seamlessly. This will enhance quantum entanglement applications like storage, sensing, and processing, which are necessary to improve processing power in critical information areas such as navigation, communication, and computation.
The team, led by Professor Stefan Preble, principal investigator on the interdisciplinary team and professor in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering, will use photonic chips that efficiently convert wavelengths while preserving the quantum information. These chips will ultimately serve as wavelength translators between the network and ion qubits, enabling high-speed entanglement across the quantum network.
Developing Fully Integrated Quantum Photonics Wafers
To achieve this goal, the project team has been working on developing fully integrated quantum photonics wafers, which are the core technology needed for new heterogeneous quantum network development. In 2020, Preble and colleagues from the AFRL and AIM Photonics produced a fully integrated quantum photonics wafer for the Department of Defense, providing the foundation for the current project.
Photonics chips provide a scalable platform for realizing high-performance quantum networking and interfaces to ions. The chips will enable many ion qubits to be multiplexed together, enabling high-speed entanglement across the quantum network. With NORDTECH, the team has assembled experts in photonic chip technologies to advance quantum networking.
Accelerating U.S.-Based Semiconductor Resources
NORDTECH is one of eight technology hubs across the country that connects a network of academic, research, defense, and industrial organizations contributing capabilities in key areas of semiconductor development. The field encompasses development in high-need areas from artificial intelligence to quantum technologies, with the intent of accelerating the growth of U.S.-based semiconductor resources, including those required for advancing defense system technologies.
RIT takes great pride in being at the forefront of the use of quantum and integrated photonics to help transform information science, microelectronics, and the semiconductor industry. The university is proud to be working with its partners in the Department of Defense Microelectronic Commons, NORDTECH Hub, and the Air Force Research Lab on future quantum networks, ensuring that it will continue to play an important role in these areas and the future of the nation’s industrial base in these critical technologies.
External Link: Click Here For More
