I-Corps: Translation potential of grand unification of quantum algorithms on photonic integrated circuits

This I-Corps project is based on the development of reconfigurable optical chips that manipulate light using software for quantum computing. Many quantum computing technologies face challenges in manufacturing, scalability, and system complexity, limiting their commercial deployment. This technology uses a semiconductor photonic platform that performs quantum computational functions on compact, programmable photonic chips. Semiconductors are the backbone of most electronics, from smart phones to home appliances to satellites. By leveraging scalable integrated photonics, the technology has the potential to reduce system complexity and operating costs and enable practical quantum computing solutions. Potential applications include quantum computing hardware, cloud computing, scientific computing, optimization, advanced materials discovery, energy technologies, and other computationally intensive applications. This technology may offer a foundational computational capability for scalable quantum computing. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of programmable photonic integrated circuits that implement quantum signal processing. Quantum signal processing is a versatile computational primitive that enables a broad class of quantum algorithms through programmable polynomial transformations. This technology is based on reconfigurable photonic integrated circuits fabricated using semiconductor-compatible processes and implements these transformations in a compact, scalable platform. Experimental results show close agreement among theoretical predictions, numerical simulations, and hardware measurements. Photonic circuits offer a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible path toward scalable, room-temperature operation without the cryogenic infrastructure required by many competing quantum-computing technologies. This technology may enable higher-degree quantum signal processing and create value for quantum-computing hardware, software, and cloud-service providers. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.