Hybrid Process Integrates PIC with Artificial Atoms to Scale Up Quantum Chip

MIT researchers have developed a way to manufacture and integrate artificial atoms with photonic circuitry to produce a quantum chip that could be used for large-scale quantum systems. Using a hybrid, modular approach, the researchers built what they believe to be the largest integrated artificial-atom photonics chip yet. Instead of trying to build a large quantum chip entirely in diamond, the researchers integrated quantum microchiplets, or QMCs — diamond waveguide arrays containing highly coherent color centers — on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The artificial atoms in the chiplets consist of the diamond color centers. Each center functions as an atom-like emitter whose spin states can form a qubit. When prodded...