Submitted by Vanessa Bismuth on Wed, 13/03/2024 - 14:23
An ambitious project aiming to revolutionise quantum communication networks has successfully secured funding through the prestigious QuantERA 2023 call.
The MEEDGARD project, short for "Memory Enhanced Entanglement Distribution with Gallium ARsenide quantum Dots,” is focusing on developing an efficient optical interface to a long-lived multi-qubit memory in semiconductor nanostructures, specifically quantum dots (QD).
Led by the University of Cambridge (Dorian Gangloff and Mete Atatüre), it brings together a consortium of partners from across Europe. Alongside Cambridge, the project includes universities and industry experts from the UK, Austria, Germany, and Poland. With a substantial budget of 2.1 million euros over three years, MEEDGARD is set to make significant strides in quantum network development.
“We are excited to embark on this journey to push the boundaries of quantum networking," said Dr Dorian Gangloff, Associate Professor of Quantum Technologies at the Cavendish Laboratory and MEEDGARD lead project coordinator. "Our collaborative effort aims to create a fully functional node for quantum networks, allowing for efficient exchange of information between flying photonic qubits and stationary matter qubits with exceptional accuracy."
The project focuses on harnessing the remarkable optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots, which are renowned for their brightness and coherence, making them ideal candidates for quantum networking.
“We propose to combine the expertise of multiple research groups with complementary skills and resources to achieve an all-in-one device delivery,” said Gangloff. “A semiconductor QD system capable of producing entanglement between a matter qubit and a photonic qubit and storing this information with 90% fidelity for 100 milliseconds, an enormous improvement over previous results.”
This will be achieved through tailored quantum dot growth and post-growth control, optimised through spectroscopic measurements.
“With an eye toward practical applications, MEEDGARD also includes an industrial partner specialising in fabrication processes,” said Prof. Mete Atatüre, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory. “This ensures that the advancements we make can be scaled up for real-world scenarios.”
The success of the MEEDGARD project holds significant promise for the future of semiconductor-based quantum networking, paving the way for enhanced security and efficiency in communication networks. As quantum information processing continues to evolve, projects like MEEDGARD play a crucial role in shaping the technological landscape of tomorrow.
Image:
A multi-qubit system in a quantum dot addressed by photons. Credit: Dr L. Zaporski