Integrated photonics with rare-earth ions for quantum network technologies
ECE 595 Seminar Series
November 8, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Integrated photonics with rare-earth ions for quantum network technologies
Speaker: Manish Kumar Singh, memQ Inc.
Abstract: Hardware for large-scale quantum networks will need to meet stringent requirements to enable the generation, storage, and distribution of quantum information. Principal challenges include close matching of photon energy with existing qubit architectures, long-lived and efficient quantum memories, telecom wavelength operation, and the ability to reliably manufacture many identical low-loss hardware components for fully transparent networks. Rare-earth ions’ weakly coupled inner-shell transitions and long optical and spin coherence times offer opportunities for high quality sources and quantum memories at telecom wavelengths. Meanwhile, their relative insensitivity to the environment, narrow optical linewidths, and ability to be doped into CMOS-compatible host materials pair well with traditional semiconductor foundry-scale processing and leverages the past several decades of infrastructure built around silicon photonics. Here, we highlight recent progress in marrying rare-earth ions with silicon photonics, including quasi-deterministic placement of qubits. We additionally outline our vision – and the outstanding challenges – for REI- and integrated photonics-based quantum networking hardware.
Speaker bio: Manish Singh is a co-founder and the CEO of memQ, a spin-out of the University of Chicago. Committed to revolutionizing the quantum communication landscape, Singh co-founded memQ with Sean Sullivan in 2022 to develop cutting-edge hardware that will enable telecom compatible quantum communication.
Singh brings a wealth of experience in quantum materials to memQ from his research at Argonne National Laboratory where he worked with Supratik Guha developing a scalable platform for solid-state qubits. Alongside Sullivan, Singh helped guide memQ to secure a coveted spot in Duality, the pioneering quantum-specific accelerator in the United States. He also brings considerable semiconductor manufacturing and engineering expertise from his work at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in process development for advanced nodes and as an integration engineer for emerging memory technology. As one of the first people in the U.S. to receive a doctoral degree in quantum engineering from the University of Chicago, Singh stands among the trailblazers in the field. He also received his MS and BS in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.
Faculty Host: Dr. Zizwe Chase (chase8@uic.edu)
This seminar will also be available online, contact ECE Student Affairs for login.
Date posted
Nov 6, 2024
Date updated
Nov 21, 2024