PHOTONICS100: QUANTUM Q&A


dimensionality of light combined with quantum effects such as superposition and entanglement. This will be the way out of pure digital computing and lead to an extra boost in modern computation science challenges such as AI.” Demonstrating computational


advantages based on its photonic processors will be Q.ANT’s biggest research priority in the coming year, says Förtsch. “This includes the


Niels Quack, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney


first experiments, so we need to be realistic about the timescale of commercialisation. However, we are constantly improving our experimental equipment, automating it, and driving it towards applications. Together with an industrial partner, we aim to create a user-friendly, prototype instrument in the next three years.” Niels Quack, Associate


Professor at the University of Sydney, says information processing in quantum photonics is just one of the possible applications of his latest research. “We work on improving


energy efficiency of photonic hardware by introducing micro- and nanomechanics in photonic integrated circuits,” he says. “Our technologies provide an opportunity for innovative solutions: photonics is an emerging technology that excels at routing and controlling optical signals on-chip. Micro- electro-mechanical systems, or MEMS, are already a quite mature technology that allows extremely precise control of movement at the nanoscale.” Quack says both technologies


are inherently scalable as they are based on standardised semiconductor manufacturing equipment. “Merging the previously distinct technologies of silicon photonics and MEMS enables novel and scalable solutions for energy-efficient photonic integrated circuits,” he adds. “Possible applications include beam steering for lidar 3D sensing that can be used in autonomous vehicles, programmable photonic chips


www.electrooptics.com


Michael Förtsch, CEO of start-up Q.ANT


that can be reconfigured to perform different functions, or information processing in quantum photonics.” Michael Förtsch, the CEO


of Q.ANT, a high-tech startup driving and industrialising photonic quantum technology, says the quantum sensors his company is developing allow the capture of information that would otherwise not be possible to attain using classical means. “For example, our NV-centre magnetometer will be able to sense muscle signals to control exo-skeletons to help handicapped persons,” he says. “Our portfolio also includes compact atomic gyroscopes for detecting the tiniest attitude changes. This lifts orientation control to the next level, enabling mini-cube satellite constellations to be stable enough for laser-based communication. “Our photonic processors, based on photonic integrated circuits with lithium niobate as a material platform, come with new computing approaches that are an alternative to the existing digital ones. This new approach overcomes the von Neumann bottleneck, via analogue and quantum computing architectures.” Förtsch says what he finds


really fascinating is the idea of combining everything into a unified platform, from data generation in a quantum sensor to directly-linked quantum information processing in photonic chips. In the photonic computing


sphere, he believes “the required speed-up can be realised by taking advantage of high


Garrett Cole, Manager, Thorlabs Crystalline Solutions March 2024 Electro Optics 21


development of tailored photonic algorithms and the link to industrial use cases. The vision is that this combination of photonic chips and photonic algorithms will operate without the use of cryogenic devices and thereby enable the native integration into high- performance computing centres.” In quantum sensing,


meanwhile, the company’s priority “is to miniaturise today’s sensors to the extreme. This includes the development of optimised electronics, lasers and optics. In addition, there will be a strong focus on the research of use cases to create a product market fit”. Garrett Cole, Manager, Thorlabs Crystalline Solutions, was struck by the rapid advancement of quantum- focused optical technologies. “A few years ago, I had assumed that the most viable approach in the quantum computing space was


‘Quantum sensors… allow the capture of information that would otherwise not be possible’


semiconductor-based systems – for example, superconducting circuits based on Josephson junctions or potentially spin systems based on Si or SiGe quantum dots,” he says. “I was admittedly very sceptical that optical architectures requiring a wide variety of lasers and optical components, particularly atomic, molecular, and optical physics (AMO) platforms such as trapped ions or neutral atoms, would ever be a winning solution. Clearly, we are far from a fully functioning or commercially viable toolset, but I am blown away by the extremely rapid progress made on Rydberg atom and trapped ion quantum computing demonstrations over the past year. “The emergence of visible


PICs, leveraging heterogeneous integration of compound semiconductors with silicon nitride or potentially thin-film lithium niobate, look to further advance what is possible, significantly reducing the complexity of such advanced quantum optical systems. I believe it will be very exciting to watch this space over the next few years…” EO


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