Photonic, a quantum computing startup, recently raised $100 million in venture funding. In addition, the company has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Microsoft to rapidly accelerate the development of its technology.
Founded in 2016 by Simon Fraser University researchers Stephanie Simmons and Michael Thewalt, Photonic focuses on a silicon-based quantum computing architecture that uses integrated photonics to link silicon spin qubits.
Stephanie Simmons revealed details of the company’s technology approach alongside the recent funding announcement, saying: “Quantum computing is a reality, and we believe that – in five years, significantly sooner than generally assumed – we will be the first quantum computing company to offer it. “a scalable, distributed and fault-tolerant solution.”
In a blog post, Microsoft wrote that Photonic’s approach could support quantum communications over standard telecommunications wavelengths using its “Azure” cloud computing infrastructure and that the two companies would tackle three levels of quantum networking.
The three levels of quantum networking
The first stage aims to provide entanglement between two different quantum devices via photons over the telecommunications fiber, before the companies seek to demonstrate a quantum repeater that can reliably capture, entangle and store quantum information for a short period of time. The third stage will focus on deploying a fault-tolerant quantum repeater compatible with the Azure cloud service.
“With this technology we can overcome all distance limitations in the network and enable the creation of a quantum Internet on a global scale,” commented Microsoft.
Jason Zander, executive vice president of strategic missions and technologies at Microsoft, added: “There is an opportunity to spark new capabilities across the quantum ecosystem that go beyond computing, such as: B. Networking and sensing, and to enable large-scale scientific applications and discoveries in chemistry. Materials science, measurement technology, communication and many other areas. The capabilities we hope to deliver with Photonics can enable this vision and deliver the impact of quantum much more quickly than would otherwise be possible. »
The silicone “color center” is a key feature
A key feature of Photonic’s approach is the so-called silicon “color center” or “T-center” – described by Simmons as “the missing component required to finally unlock the first credible path to commercial quantum computing.”
According to an article by S. Simmons published in the journal Nature in 2020, these centers are isolated point defects in silicon caused by impurities or defects in the silicon crystal lattice and emit light the length of a telecommunications wave.
Photonic co-founder and chief quantum officer Stephanie Simmons shows off the company’s optical quantum computing hardware in the palm of her hand. Photo credit: Business Wire
In a new paper recently submitted to physics preprint platform arXiv, S. Simmons explains how the T-color center approach combines the advantages of silicon fabrication and scalability with telecom emission and long-term spin storage in a quantum system .
“The integrated silicon photonics platform allows thousands of qubits to be fabricated and addressed on a single chip with optical and electronic control and routing, and the modules can be interconnected over existing global telecommunications infrastructure without transmission losses,” wrote Photonics “quantum leader.” .”
synthetic
Photonic, a quantum computing startup, has raised $100 million in venture capital and entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Microsoft. Founded by researchers at Simon Fraser University, the company focuses on a silicon-based quantum computer architecture. The goal is to offer a scalable, distributed and fault-tolerant solution within the next five years. The collaboration with Microsoft aims to support quantum communications over standard telecommunications wavelengths using the “Azure” cloud computing infrastructure.
For better understanding
What is photonics and what is its main purpose?
Photonic is a quantum computing startup founded in 2016 by researchers at Simon Fraser University. Its main goal is to develop a silicon-based quantum computer architecture that uses integrated photonics to bind silicon spin qubits.
What does the partnership between Photonic and Microsoft look like?
Photonic has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Microsoft. The goal of this partnership is to support quantum communications over standard telecommunications wavelengths using Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing infrastructure.
What is a silicon “color center”?
A silicon “color center” or “T-center” is an isolated point defect in silicon caused by impurities or defects in the silicon crystal lattice that emits light at telecommunications wavelengths. This is a key feature of Photonic’s approach.
What is a quantum repeater?
A quantum repeater is a device that can reliably capture, entangle and store quantum information for a short period of time. This is one of the most important steps in quantum networking that Photonic and Microsoft want to achieve.
What is the quantum internet?
The quantum internet is a network that uses quantum mechanics to perform communication tasks that are inaccessible to classical technologies. It would overcome all distance limitations in the network and create a quantum internet on a global scale.
Main lessons
| to teach |
|---|
| Photonic is a startup specializing in quantum computing. |
| Photonic has raised $100 million in venture capital funding. |
| Photonic has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Microsoft. |
| Photonic’s approach is based on a silicon quantum computer architecture. |
| Photonic uses integrated photonics to bind silicon spin qubits. |
| Photonic aims to offer a scalable, distributed and fault-tolerant solution within the next five years. |
| Microsoft supports Photonic’s approach to quantum communications over standard telecommunications wavelengths. |
| Photonic and Microsoft are working on three levels of quantum networking. |
| Photonic uses what is known as a silicon “color center” or “T center” in its approach. |
| Photonic has received financial backing from Microsoft and other venture capital groups. |
References
Image Caption: Photonics’ new approach to quantum computing exploits the phenomenon of silicon color centers, or T-centers, which are caused by defects in a series of silicon crystals that sometimes absorb or emit light at telecommunications wavelengths. Connecting these centers via fiber optics offers the possibility of repeaters and fault-tolerant quantum processors, says the young Canadian company. Photo credit: Business Wire.
The information in this article is based on the original article titled “Quantum computing startup Photonic has raised $100 million in new venture funding and agreed to a strategic collaboration with Microsoft aimed at rapidly scaling the technology.”
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