Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories are pushing the boundaries of quantum technology by developing compact integrated microsystems that can carry quantum information using light. In collaboration with Arizona State University, researchers are scaling down large-scale optical systems to the size of a chip, offering performance advantages and scalability for applications such as advanced computing and secure communications.
Nils Otterstrom, a Sandia physicist specializing in integrated photonics, is leading the effort to develop novel devices and explore device physics. He is working with Joe Lukens, senior director of Quantum Networking at Arizona State University, who is an expert in frequency-bin quantum information processing. The team has developed highly efficient novel phase modulator devices based on suspended silicon waveguides that convey light and gigahertz soundwaves. With $17 million in funding from Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research program, the researchers aim to move their work from proof-of-principle experiments to deployment in quantum networks.
The current state of affairs in frequency-bin encoding is limited by bulky systems that suffer from high losses of photons, are expensive, and take up a lot of space. However, with the resources available at Sandia’s MESA complex, researchers like Joe Lukens believe they can overcome these limitations by fabricating small photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that can achieve the same capabilities as large optical tables.
Sandia’s National Security Photonics Center boasts an impressive portfolio of over 50 issued patents in integrated photonics. One key component being developed is spatial beam splitters, which are fundamental to quantum photonics. Nils Otterstrom and his team have created novel phase modulator devices based on suspended silicon waveguides that can efficiently split a photon into multiple frequencies.
The goal is to move from proof-of-principle experiments to deployment in quantum networks. To achieve this, the researchers need systems with lower loss rates and lower costs. By realizing these capabilities on chip, they can create a more practical and plausible way to do quantum networking.
The collaboration between Sandia and Arizona State University has already borne fruit, with a $17 million Grand Challenge award from Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research program to advance the team’s work in frequency-based quantum photonics. This funding will enable large-scale implementation and integration of the device physics explored in the early collaboration.
Additionally, Sandia is participating in the Quantum Collaborative and offers its microelectronics prototyping capabilities as a core partner of the Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub (SWAP Hub). This hub, led by Arizona State University, aims to jumpstart American competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.
Overall, this research has the potential to significantly advance our capabilities in quantum information processing and networking. As a science journalist, I’m excited to continue following this story and exploring the implications of these breakthroughs.
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