Luxembourg’s quantum materials research is set to develop quantum chips, which could revolutionize the quantum internet and quantum computers.
Florian Kaiser, head of the Quantum Materials Research Group in Luxembourg, has investigated a dedicated research strategy for scalable quantum chips based on standard semiconductor technology. This ambitious program is aimed at the development of “quantum system-on-chip.” This allows for increased performance while offering cost-effective production potential in semiconductor foundries.
The promise of quantum technology
By leveraging and controlling the complex properties of quantum mechanics, it is possible to unleash new digital technologies that could extend well beyond today’s standards.
Quantum computers can solve complex mathematical problems that classical machines are difficult to use. Quantum simulators help you discover new smart and efficient materials to enable a sustainable society. Quantum sensors can achieve unparalleled sensitivity of investigations at minimum scale (NANO-MRI) to the maximum scale (gravitational wave detection). Quantum communication also enables completely secure internet, including services from Quantum Cloud.
Issues in quantum technology
Essentially, all these quantum technology pillars already demonstrate their potential and capabilities. New breakthroughs are reported daily at academic and startup levels.
Two of the biggest hurdles to moving quantum technology into the market are:
In particular, it expands the number of qubits combined with superior quantum memory, exceeding quantum processing tasks. Using non-exotic materials, it reduces the costs of quantum systems and benefits from established classic production lines.
A blueprint for quantum technology beyond current state
The problems with quantum technology in current states may sound familiar. The first generation classic computers of the late 1930s were based on hundreds to thousands of vacuum tubes, which were unreliable, required permanent maintenance, and consumed hundreds of kilowatts of power. The possibilities in the consumer market were clearly very slim. In the late 1960s, this changed completely. The rise of integrated semiconductor microchips paved the way for digital technology over the past few decades, as new standards were set in terms of cost-effectiveness, number of transistors in processors, energy consumption and reliability. The latest trend in all major producers (AMD, Apple, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung) is to minimize the effects of noise and signal loss by integrating processors and memory modules on the same monolithic system-on-chip.
Future vision of quantum technology
Recent advances in quantum technology have proven feasible to develop scalable platforms based on monolithic quantum system-on-chip, according to Dr. Florian Kaiser, group leader of the quantum materials team at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (List).
The core of this technology is the optically active spin of semiconductor crystals (qubits based on what is called “color centers”). Color centers are based on small, atomically defects or impurities within otherwise complete host crystals, resulting in systems with quantum properties like single atoms. Photons emitted by color centers act as photonic communication buses for transferring quantum information between multiple color centers and for routing information within the quantum Internet. Color center electronic spins act as a great bus for quantum processing and memory. Precise control of electron spins allows for the operation of highly coherent nuclear spins Qubits near the color center, which are part of today’s best quantum processing and memory systems.
Over the past 20 years, spectacular experiments have been carried out at diamond color centres, but scalability has been imposed by the limited availability of diamonds and the lack of large diamond manufacturing facilities. Therefore, recent work has focused on replacing diamonds with materials that are more industry-compatible.
Silicon Carbide: A Promising Semiconductor Platform for Quantum Technology
About a decade ago, researchers began investigating the color centres of silicon carbide, an industry-leading high-power semiconductor. Several studies have shown that small quantum processors and quantum memory based on the color center of silicon carbide can compete directly with the counterparts of diamonds. Furthermore, the first attempt at microintegration into photonic quantum chips was promising.
The next natural step in research over the next few years is to maximize both the reproducibility of high-performance quantum color centers and the design of integrated photonic quantum chips.
“To improve the reproducibility of a color center, all steps need to be optimized along the production line,” said Dr. Kaiser. “In a nutshell, this requires minimizing unwanted crystal damage when creating color centers in materials or etching photonic nanostructures needed in clean rooms.”
To accelerate this research, the team recently established a high-throughput quantum color center characterization platform. This maximizes the parameter space that can be studied within a reasonable amount of time.
The vision of highly reproducible photonic quantum chips requires the use of professional nanofabrication in established semiconductor foundries.
Dr. Kaiser’s team will tackle both these challenges, including several key project funding from the Luxembourg government (estimated 4.5 million euros) and the European Research Council (estimated 3 million euros).
Dr. Kaiser added: “What makes silicon carbide unique among other promising quantum technology platforms is that it is an established industrial semiconductor. This allowed us to use standard electronic devices that can suppress charging noise around the color center. As soon as we reach a tipping point.”
Practical applications for the next few years
The natural development of the implementation of quantum technology based on the color center of silicon carbide will be the quantum Internet. You can set up a Quantum Repeater node using excellent quantum memory associated with the Silicon Carbide Color Center. This is the only known approach to long-range, fully secure quantum communication networks.
This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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