Thrust 1: Network Building Blocks

The focus of this portion of research is related to building blocks of quantum networks. One of the requirements for quantum networks is the ability to create single and indistinguishable photons directly on a chip. Single photon emission (SPE) from 2D materials is a growing subject of research, and has been demonstrated in hBN, WS2 and WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2, and advances have been made in novel materials synthesis and instrumentation development for imaging and spectroscopy of quantum materials and emitters. Our team has made major advances in novel materials synthesis and high-resolution, high-sensitivity instrumentation development, as well as in imaging and spectroscopy of quantum materials / emitters.

One of the current challenges toward a topological quantum computer is to construct scalable 1D networks of superconductor-semiconductor systems, and the development of high-quality scalable materials platforms will be carried out. Techniques and the underlying theory for characterizing the quantum state of SPEs through quantum measurement will be developed. The team will also work on room-temperature nanoscale cavity control of quantum emitters based on van der Waals SPEs through interdisciplinary synergies of cutting-edge simulation, material fabrication, and quantum scale probing.

In a parallel effort, Graphene Josephson Junction (GJJ), which uses graphene as the ‘weak-link’ between two superconducting electrodes, will be developed as sensitive single photon detectors (SPDs). The performance of a GJJ based SPD depends on efficient photon absorption of the graphene sheet, appreciable temperature elevation of the graphene electrons, and the sensitivity of transition. Our interdisciplinary NRT team  will focus on the physics-based circuit-compatible model development for single photon emitters/detectors.