PhotonQ

Goals and procedure

For the measurement-based quantum processor planned in this project, a highly entangled photonic quantum state (so-called cluster state) and problem-specific adapted (adaptive) measurements of this state are needed to perform universal quantum calculations. The challenge is to produce and process such a highly entangled cluster state with high efficiency and quality. In particular, optical losses in the system must be kept as low as possible. At the same time, there must be high efficiency in the generation and detection of the photons. This requires the development of new or significantly improved components in all subsystems. Accordingly, deterministic photon sources, scalable silicon photonic circuits, improved interconnection technology and novel single photon detectors are to be realized in this project. The overall system will be set up in Stuttgart to demonstrate quantum information processing with eight qubits and to prove the fundamental suitability of the measurement-based, photonic functional principle for quantum computing.

Innovation and perspectives

The measurement-based quantum processor will allow the realization of quantum algorithms with few qubits. Therefore, suitable algorithms and applications are researched and the differences between gate-based and measurement-based systems are especially investigated.

In the BMBF-funded project, the Universities of Stuttgart, Würzburg, Mainz and Ulm, the Technical University of Munich, the Institute for Microelectronics Stuttgart and Vanguard Automation GmbH aim to develop a processor for a photonic quantum computer. The heart of the quantum processor is an integrated photonic chip.

In PhotonQ, IMS CHIPS is researching and developing the integrated photonic chips with novel components such as ultra-low-attenuation phase shifters. In addition, an optical AVT with low transmission losses will be established to connect the individual system components.