Quantum information scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have successfully demonstrated, for the first time, a device that combines key quantum photonic capabilities on a single chip for the first time.
Published in Optica Quantum, the study centers on a form of quantum computing that uses photons, particles of light, to create qubits and to transmit and store information. Unlike classical bits, which represent either 0 or 1, qubits can exist in multiple states at once through a phenomenon known as quantum superposition. This enables more complex and powerful information encoding. The research also advances the foundation for quantum networking, which aims to link quantum devices across distances—a critical step toward realizing a quantum internet.
“We’re not the first to put any one of these elements on a chip, but we’re the first to put these specific capabilities on a single one,” said Joe Lukens, senior author of the study and an associate professor at Purdue University with a joint faculty appointment at ORNL. “These chips can be manufactured at standardized specifications, which is the key to ensuring mass production at scale. A product like this takes us beyond tabletop demonstrations and on the path toward a quantum internet that anyone can use.”
To read more, click here.