Project Description

The radical vision of EPIQUS is to set a cornerstone for the future of quantum science and information technologies by developing a chip-scale quantum photonic-electronic integrated platform, fully interfaced to a classical computer. This reconfigurable photonic-qubit device will be a testbed for a quantum simulator to address both Artificial Intelligence (Quantum Machine Learning) and Physics (Heisenberg-Spin Systems) tasks. All the necessary functionalities – scalable near-infrared photon pair sources, reconfigurable quantum interference circuits and arrays of single photon detectors – will be integrated within the same portable chip. The realization of such a technological platform will boost EU’s industrial ecosystem of the quantum information technologies to advance the long-term economic, scientific, and social benefits.

The targeted scientific breakthrough of EPIQUS is the demonstration of a quantum simulator based on an all-on-a-photonic-chip integrated scalable platform. We will realize a unique portable system operating at ambient temperatures. We will merge Silicon Nitride-based (SiN) optically transparent quantum photonic circuits with Silicon single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors within a unique technological processing line in order to realize a 3D-integrated Photonic Quantum Simulator (QS) device.

The foremost objective of EPIQUS is to Demonstrate a fully functional 3D-integrated QS module.

It will include all necessary components – scalable sources of near-infrared (NIR) photon pairs, quantum interference photonic reconfigurable circuitry, scalable arrays of single photon detectors, analog control and readout of the QS and will be fully interfaced to a classical computer via specifically developed quantum codes and algorithms.

To reach this ultimate objective, EPIQUS will achieve several intermediate goals:

Objective 1 – Scalable sources of entangled NIR photons based on integrated SiN photonic architectures,

Objective 2 – High-quality Quantum interference Readout through integrated Si SPAD arrays at RT,

Objective 3 – Full management and readout via an analog electronic chip,

Objective 4 – Development of quantum algorithms for statistical problem solving (software interface to QS via digital processor),

Objective 5 – Development of quantum software (user-level programming, algorithm decomposition, circuit mapping and QS module control).

To reach these objectives EPIQUS will be organized in 7 work packages:

WP1 – Management & Coordination (Lead: FBK)

WP2 – Quantum Theory & Algorithms (Lead: UPV/EHU)

WP3 – Quantum Photonic Circuitry (Lead: UNITN)

WP4 – Photon Resolving Devices (Lead: FBK)

WP5 – Control circuitry & system integration (Lead: TUW)

WP6 – Quantum Simulation (Lead: UROS)

WP7 – Dissemination & Exploitation (Lead: FBK)