Events
PICQUE Scientific School in Integrated Quantum Photonics Applications: from Simulation to Sensing
Endorsed by Optica
06 - 10 Jul 2015
Quantum optics represents an excellent experimental test bench for various novel concepts introduced within the framework of Quantum Information Science theory. However the realization of complex optical schemes consisting of many elements requires the introduction of waveguide technology to achieve the desired scalability, stability and miniaturization of the device. Hence, for photonic quantum technologies to have a significant real-world impact, quantum applications require integrated photonic devices, incorporating high efficient photon sources, detectors and circuits. High component density, low-loss and dynamically reconfigurable quantum waveguide circuits are essential to achieve a level of complexity of the circuits larger than what previously demonstrated. Fast reconfigurable waveguide circuits containing integrated detector arrays and sources will enable the realization of a variety of integration demonstrators with applications in different scientific and technological areas. The efficient generation of “true” single photon states is today a major challenge towards developing quantum-enabled photonic technologies. The realization of a device that can outperform conventional computers remains quite distant, owing to the need for large numbers of highly-controllable photon circuits to manipulate and process it using physical systems by following the principles of quantum mechanics, regarding in particular the control and manipulation of individual quantum degrees of freedom. To this end, completely new schemes of information transfer and processing, enabling new forms of communication and enhancing the computational power, are expected. Incorporating the laws of quantum physics in data storage, processing and transmission may unleash new possibilities for information processing, ranging from quantum communication to quantum sensing, metrology, simulation and computing. The main objective of the PICQUE consortium is represented by the establishment of a world-class training platform spreading around the highly interdisciplinary / inter-sectorial area of integrated quantum photonics. This stands as a new discipline where the need for scientists will significantly increase in the near future, both in the academia and in industries. The future players in this field will require complementary skills, on one side know-how on material sciences, optical engineering, and quantum physics, and on the other side capabilities in project management, intellectual property protection, and starting up new companies. All these ingredients are brought together in the proposed training program with a synergic collaboration between research groups from several different countries and in tight inter-connection with the private sector. Within this framework the main topic of the school is integrated photonics for quantum optics applications. All its most relevant aspects, such as quantum metrology, sensing, simulations, boson sampling, on-a-chip laboratory techniques, quantum information and encoding will be developed and analyzed from the speakers. This event is organized in the framework of the PICQUE project. Photonic Integrated Compound Quantum Encoding (PICQUE) is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network involving 10 full partners and 8 associated partners from 7 different European countries, and aims at forming the new generation of quantum information scientists. The school shares the same goal of the PICQUE project. The invited lectures and seminars have been chosen to cover the knowledge of all the basic components of a photonic quantum processor: generation, manipulation and detection of photon states. The school should provide a formative experience and will help creating a young community in this new and very exciting field, getting to know other young scientists on a professional and personal level, discussing science, visiting international research centers, and expanding their personal horizon. This school/workshop will illustrate the theoretical and experimental panorama of the most advanced topics in quantum information science. This event will involve several scientists with strong expertise on theoretical quantum information processing to integrate the know-how of the consortium. The participants will then have a picture of the challenges ahead, helping them make valuable contributions in their future positions. The tutorial lectures will mainly focus on the theoretical aspects while the invited seminars address the experimental implementations.
