QLASS - Quantum Glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits

Project description and objective

QLASS brings together experts from top research groups, emerging SMEs, and industry with the ambitious aim of producing a quantum photonic integrated circuit (QPIC) utilising femtosecond laser writing (FLW) to fabricate 3D waveguides within glass. This glass material, developed for optimal photonic performance, supports an unprecedented 200 reconfigurable optical modes. Compared to other QPIC techniques, glass offers extremely small interface losses (<5%), making it ideal for modular, scalable architectures connecting multiple chips, whilst also offering speed, affordability, and optimisation for end-user goals.

The project incorporates high-performance single-photon sources, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, and electronics enabling reconfigurable state manipulation via control of an exceptionally large number of cryogenic-detector channels (200) and phase shifters (1000). The objective is to create an end-to-end quantum photonics platform, ideally suited for implementing Variational Quantum Algorithms (VQAs), which are leading candidates for near-term advantage. QLASS will develop software for end users to translate their VQAs into FLW circuits, with error mitigation strategies to enhance QPIC performance.

The principal use case of QLASS is to address challenges in the design of lithium-ion batteries, aiming for improvements in capacity and efficiency crucial for achieving EU technological and sustainability goals. The project will make substantial advancements towards QPIC objectives and glass development, along with associated novel processes for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), benefiting the wider community and enabling new quantum devices with performance far exceeding other platforms.

The project leverages a combination of world-class experimentalists and theorists with complementary expertise to successfully execute the ambitious project objectives and advance practical QPICs.