Quantum computing has the potential to solve problems beyond the capabilities of conventional supercomputers. It could revolutionize the advancement of several fields, including biochemistry, finance, logistics, and artificial intelligence. Two photonic quantum computers have reached the milestone of quantum advantage (Jian-Wei Pan’s group at the University of Science and Technology of China, and Xanadu in Toronto, Canada). Building a quantum computer using integrated silicon photonics provides the advantage of a scalable platform based on silicon manufacturing.
The NSERC CREATE Quantum BC program and CMC Microsystems bring you a workshop on the design, fabrication, and testing of quantum silicon photonic circuits used in quantum computer hardware. We invite you to join the workshop taking place in person at The University of British Columbia from May 25 to 29, 2024.
The workshop will teach participants how to design, simulate, fabricate, and test their own quantum silicon photonic circuits. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of quantum optics and how photonics can be used for quantum computing, and the types of problems that can be solved on photonic-based processors, particularly with Xanadu’s cloud-accessed quantum processor. During the workshop, students will practice creating a design and layout of a quantum silicon photonic circuit. Students will brainstorm and pitch their circuit ideas to researchers at leading universities and industry. After the workshop, students will have several months to complete their design and submit their circuits for fabrication by a foundry (Applied Nanotools) facilitated by CMC. Participants will test their chips using equipment at their own university or by their own arrangements, such as via a collaboration with the workshop instructors and/or visits to their facilities.
The focus of the workshop is on devices and circuits that can be fabricated in the chosen silicon photonics processes. The processes are based on silicon wafers with a choice of either Si or SiN waveguides surrounded by silicon oxide cladding (SiNOI or SOI), metal heaters for phase shifters, and a deep trench etch for edge coupling or photonic wire bond packaging to optical fibres.
Organized by
Important Notes:
- The representing organizations of the interested participants will have to sign a 3-way Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with CMC Microsystems and Applied Nanotools Inc. This will provide presenters and participants with an opportunity to delve deeper into topics of interest in the course of the workshop. For access and more information regarding this document, please contact Jennifer Draper. The document submission deadline is May 11, 2024.
- In addition to the 3-way NDA, each participant must sign an Access to Intellectual Property NDA. This individual-based NDA is set in place to protect each designer’s intellectual rights from potential exposure to other participants during the design competition review sessions and other relevant group activities. For access and more information regarding this document, please contact Sarah J. Neville. The submission deadline is May 11, 2024.
Target Attendees
The target audience for this workshop are:
- Graduate students who have completed the UBC course EECE 571SIntroduction to Quantum Computing, or
- Graduate students who have completed the Université de Sherbrooke course PHY 737 Information et calcul quantiques(or PHY 637), or
- Graduate students who have completed the Simon Fraser University course PHYS 816 Quantum Information Science, or
- Graduate students who have completed the University of Waterloo courses QIC710 and QCI750 as general courses.
- Other students, postdoctoral researchers, academics and industry members with relevant backgrounds in science and/or engineering.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Location |
| May 25 to 29, 2024 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PT), plus daily project work on your own |
|
Important Dates (the following dates may be subject to change):
- Design proposal: July 29, 2024
- Design for fabrication deadline: August 26, 2024
Topics
The following topics will be covered in the workshop:
- Introduction to silicon quantum photonics, quantum optics theory, and non-linear optics
- Introduction to quantum optical computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication.
- Introduction to silicon photonic components
- Photonic devices including waveguides using Si and SiN, single photon and photon pair sources, squeezed state generation, single photon detectors, interferometers, phase tuning elements, cavities and cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED)
- Quantum gates: Non-Linear Sign, CNOT, Squeezed State
- Photonic quantum circuit algorithms
- Circuit simulation using Xanadu’s Strawberry Fields and Ansys/Lumerical Quantum INTERCONNECT
- Quantum photonics fabrication processes
- Physical implementation of quantum photonic devices
- Process design kit
- Layout-centric photonics design flow using Siemens enterprise level design tools and SiEPIC-tools
- Test methods, equipment, facilities, design for test rules
- Photonic quantum computing approaches discrete variable, continuous variable, Gaussian Boson Sampling, and cluster states
- Applications of photonics-based quantum computing.
Acknowledgment
Siemens has generously offered to provide their Tanner tools suite for all attending entities during the course of the workshop.
Pricing and Registration
This training is open to academics and industry in Canada or abroad. The registration deadline is May 21, 2024.
| Option | Option 1 | Option 2 |
| Description | Workshop + CAD + Fab The registration fee includes a 5-day in-person workshop, including access to CAD/simulation tools during the workshop and for two weeks following the workshop plus a chip fabrication area on a shared ANT fabrication run. | Workshop only (no Fab) The registration fee includes a 5-day in-person workshop and access to CAD/simulation tools during the workshop and for two weeks following the workshop (No chip fabrication included for this option). |
| Price |
|
|
| Registration | Closed. | |
Equipment Requirements
Attendees should bring their laptops to participate in all hands-on activities. However, it is recommended to use a Windows or Linux host PC, a Mac with a Linux or Windows Virtual Machine, or a remote desktop connection to your own Linux or Windows remote server.
Travel and Accommodations
Participants make their own arrangements for travel and accommodations. Recommendations include Carey House, UBC Conferences Accommodations, TRIUMF House, UBC Suites, St. John’s College, Green College, and Airbnb.
Contact
If you have any comments or questions regarding the contents or registrations of this workshop, please contact:
- Susan Xu from CMC Microsystems: susan.xu@cmc.ca,
- Brent Jodoin from CMC Microsystems: jodoin@cmc.ca, or
- Bahiyyih Peters from The University of British Columbia: bahiyyih.peters@ubc.ca.
Cancellations
Event cancellations must be received in writing at least one (1) week before the beginning date of the event in question to receive a full refund of the registration fee. A cancellation made after the deadline will not receive a refund. CMC Microsystems makes no commitments on refunds for travel or accommodations.