Photonic Quantum Processor Development Bolstered by International Partnership
SOUTHERN FRANCE, October 18, 2023 – An international partnership has become formed, spearheaded by French quantum tech firm PASQAL, with the shared vision of laying the groundwork for the future of photonic quantum computing. This potentially revolutionary venture, backed by the European Innovation Council’s Pathfinder-2023 grant, brings together leading academic and industrial entities.
The partnership, including the likes of Sorbonne Université in France, Pixel Photonics GmbH from Germany, Spain’s Institute of Photonic Sciences, and the French Institut d’Optique Théorique et Appliquée, will focus on harnessing the immense potential of neutral atom technology to craft a quantum processor, with light serving as the primary vehicle for quantum data.
Light’s innate capacity to transport significant data over extended ranges with minimal loss—especially at ambient conditions—makes it an ideal candidate for quantum computing scalability. However, the inherent non-interaction of light particles, photons, poses a considerable challenge in designing quantum circuits, as interactions are vital for operations.
Addressing this challenge, the consortium, dubbed PANDA, will delve into creating a quantum computer that exploits the interaction between photons and a unique arrangement of neutral atoms. Leveraging PASQAL’s advanced technique, which uses highly precise lasers known as optical tweezers, these neutral atoms can be meticulously organized into versatile 2D and 3D matrices.
Loïc Henriet, CTO of PASQAL, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Teaming up with renowned photonics experts, we’re poised to propel quantum computing to new horizons. We firmly believe that our naturally sourced atoms will play an invaluable role in this initiative.”
A cutting-edge technique under PANDA’s purview aims to craft novel states of light with unmatched efficiency!
This will be achieved by combining collective expertise in atomic ensemble research, quantum light study, high-efficiency light detection, and breakthroughs in nano-photonics.
Pixel Photonics’ CTO, Wladick Hartmann, shared his insights: “Our goal to systematically create novel light states will pave the way for revolutionary quantum computing frameworks. We’re eager to contribute our advancements in photon detection to this groundbreaking approach.”
Professor Nicolas Treps, who helms the Multimode Quantum Optics group at Sorbonne Université and oversees the project. Moreover, emphasized the project’s scientific promise, noting, “We’re tackling a significant hindrance in the otherwise promising realm of quantum computing with unconventional light.”
Spotlight on Consortium Members:
- Sorbonne Université: A globally recognized French institution, champions cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research. Prof. Nicolas Treps and Dr. Valentina Parigi have been at the forefront of quantum optics innovations.
- The Institute of Photonic Sciences: Based in Spain, it’s a pioneer in photonics research and training, led by luminaries like Prof. Darrick Chang.
- Pixel Photonics GmbH: Born out of WWU Münster in 2021, this German nanophotonics enterprise focuses on scalable single-photon detectors. More about Pixel Photonics can be found at pixelphotonics.com.
- Institut d’Optique Théorique et Appliquée: A key player in the French photonics domain, it is recognized for its research, innovation, and industrial development contributions.
- PASQAL: Emerging as a top contender in French Quantum Computing, PASQAL specializes in developing quantum processors using ordered neutral atom arrays. Further insights can be accessed at pasqal.com.
Wave functions of the electron in a hydrogen atom at different energy levels. In addition, quantum mechanics cannot predict the exact location of a particle in space, only the probability of finding it at different locations.[1] Moreover, the brighter areas represent a higher probability of finding the electron.
