The University of Twente is coordinating a novel project poised to accelerate the development of quantum computing systems. The project, entitled QU-PIC, aims to establish European Sovereignty in the emerging quantum field with a toolbox of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) quantum building blocks.
Quantum computers, with their potential to perform calculations beyond the reach of classical supercomputers, are at the forefront of scientific innovation. Photonics is one of the main enabling technologies for quantum computing systems, but – based on bulk optics – they are not yet scalable. Huge tables filled with lasers are needed to manipulate and read out ions. Therefore QU-PIC wants to make quantum computing systems smaller, more stable and scalable.
The researchers and companies collaborating see a need for a universal photonic integrated platform that can operate with light coloured from UV to mid-infrared, therefore covering a broader range of light than is currently possible. “The integrated photonics platforms studied so far do not cover the UV, leading to complicated integration schemes where several passive PIC platforms need to be combined”, says project lead Sonia Garcia Blanco.
Quantum building blocks
QU-PIC's overarching goal is to create a toolkit of PIC quantum building blocks that facilitates the swift progression from conceptualisation to a fully packaged quantum computing system. By developing essential technologies within the European supply chain, QU-PIC seeks to contribute significantly to establishing European Sovereignty in the emerging quantum field.
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The project is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Sonia Garcia Blanco, full professor at the Integrated Optical Systems group (IOS; Faculty of Science and Technology). Other principal investigators of UT working on this project are Prof. Dr. Klaus Boller, Dr. Jelmer Renema and Prof. Dr. Pepijn Pinkse, Prof. Dr. Bram Nauta and Dr. Anne-Johan Annema.
The QU-PIC is a project from an international consortium of eleven research institutes and companies. The participating organisations are the University of Twente, Ghent University, Quix Quantum, Tematys, TOPTICA Photonic AG, Aluvia Photonics, WWU Münster, Technische Universität Berlin, Chalmers University of Technology, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and Eagleyard Photonics GmbH. The total budget consists of around 6 million euros. QU-PIC will officially kick off on the 14 and 15th of February.
