Super chip hybrid of photonics, electronics and quantum

Scientists have successfully created a "quantum light factory" miniaturized in a silicon chip the size of a fingertip.

The first hybrid chip between photonics, electronics and quantum. Photo: Boston University .

According to research published in Nature Electronics , researchers from Boston University, UC Berkeley and Northwestern University have made a breakthrough by making a miniaturized "quantum light factory" on a 1 mm2 silicon chip.

More uniquely, this particular chip is built using a standard 45nm CMOS manufacturing process — the same one used for popular processors like x86 and ARM, bringing quantum hardware one step closer to the world of mass production.

Additionally, the breakthrough could pave the way for scalable quantum computing that does not require bespoke setups, instead relying on mass production techniques.

Tom's Hardware likens the chip to a prototype for a future quantum manufacturing line, with 12 tiny silicon rings called "microring resonators."

Each active ring acts as a generator of photon pairs with unique quantum properties. These photon pairs are the lifeblood of many quantum technologies, but their production typically requires fragile laboratory setups. With this new discovery, they can be created directly on a chip with just a fingertip.

Also worth noting is that the chip not only generates quantum light, but also helps keep that light stable.

Microring resonators are robust but unstable. Small changes in temperature or manufacturing characteristics can throw them out of tune and stop the photon flow.

To solve this problem, the researchers built a feedback system directly into the chip, with each resonator having a tiny photodiode to monitor performance, along with miniature heating elements and control circuitry that makes instant adjustments.

This self-tuning approach enables all 12 resonators to work together in perfect synchronization, without the need for bulky stabilizing equipment.

“This is a small, but important step. It shows that it is possible to build stable and repeatable quantum systems in an industrial production environment,” said Miloš Popović, Associate Professor at Boston University, and co-author of the study.

Source: https://znews.vn/sieu-chip-lai-giua-quang-tu-dien-tu-va-luong-tu-post1570960.html