AIM Photonics and Cornell University Respond to DoD Request for High-End Quantum Solutions

The Department of Defense considers quantum technology development critical to defense readiness and domestic competitiveness

In collaboration with academic and commercial partners from across the northeast, the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics and Cornell University’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering will lead research efforts on the Quantum Ultra-broadband Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems project through the Northeast Regional Defense Technology (NORDTECH) Hub. The Quantum Ultra-broadband Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems project – or QUPICS – was among four major NORDTECH projects recently selected for funding by the Department of Defense with the goal of significantly boosting microelectronics manufacturing capabilities in the U.S.

The Department of Defense (DoD) continues to demonstrate its commitment to bolster advanced manufacturing in emerging quantum and integrated photonics technologies. Integrated photonics enable the near-light speed acceleration of high-bandwidth data to move seamlessly through complex networks. Photonic integrated circuits known as PICs are used in datacom, telecom, automotive and aerospace applications and beyond – industries that rely on highly functional semiconductor and microchip performance.

The QUPICS project will primarily focus on the development of an accessible 300 mm foundry fabrication platform for quantum photonic technologies extending from optical wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) through the infrared (IR). Integrated systems in the UV-IR broad wavelength range are critical for enabling a variety of photonics-heavy quantum systems and applications such as sensing, networking, next generation computing, navigation, secure communications, and drug discovery.

The QUPICS team is comprised of experts from the Air Force Research Laboratory (Rome, NY), Columbia University, NIST-Gaithersburg, Rochester Institute of Technology, Quantinuum, TOPTICA Photonics, Inc., Xanadu, and Yale University. Together the team will address the foundry gap of tuning across the UV-IR spectrum of broadband for experimental use in electro-optic devices with multi-metal layer electrical functionality and laser capabilities into a single broadly available chip-based system. In future iterations, the QUPICS platform will be available for multi-project wafer (MPW) runs for joint development opportunities.

“QUPICS builds on the trailblazing work of AIM Photonics to enable accessible, state-of-the-art silicon photonic processing in a 300 mm CMOS line. QUPICS will be a game changer for trapped-ion and trapped-atom quantum technologies,” said Dr. Lewis Carpenter, photonics development manager at AIM Photonics, and QUPICS principal investigator.

“QUPICS has the unique promise to deliver a mature and broadly accessible fabrication platform supporting atomic and photonic quantum systems, which we will develop and leverage for the trapped-ion systems we are working on at Cornell,” adds Karan Mehta, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Cornell University, and QUPICS co-principal investigator.

The project potential is also expected to enhance AIM Photonics’ research in silicon photonics by extending the Institute’s current capabilities in prototyping and deployment of quantum systems, which are specifically tailored to the requirement of QUPICS.

Successive build offerings and process design kits (PDKs) will facilitate experiments in QUPICS devices throughout the program. The MPW runs will be offered outside the project team to help research groups at national labs, government agencies, and a range of commercial organizations pursing quantum computing, communication, sensing, and related photonics applications.

Related Links:

• NORDTECH Hub: https://www.nordtechub.org/

• AIM Photonics Process Design Kits: https://www.aimphotonics.com/pdk

• Cornell Engineering: https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/

• Department of Defense: https://www.defense.gov/

• Manufacturing USA: https://www.manufacturingusa.com/

About Cornell Engineering

Building on our 150-plus-year legacy as one of the nation’s preeminent engineering colleges, Cornell Engineering is forging new paradigms in engineering education, research, and technology translation. Comprising more than ten schools, departments, and programs, we are rooted in Ithaca with a growing presence in New York City. Our global influence is reflected in our diverse and talented community. Guided by our core values, our faculty and staff regularly engage across disciplines and intentionally bring together a range of perspectives as they lead and support ambitious efforts to tackle societal challenges, develop the next generation of leaders, and make a meaningful difference in the world.

About AIM Photonics

The American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) is one of nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes established and managed by the U.S. Department of Defense to advance new technology and capabilities into products and systems that help secure national defense and economic priorities. AIM enables current and future photonics technologies by integrating traditional photonics with advanced nanotechnology transistors on a silicon wafer fabricated using a standard silicon foundry process. AIM’s goal is to help U.S. companies—both small and large—develop innovative products and services by providing them with technology on-ramps and access to strategic U.S. government, industry, and academic communities. More information can be found at: www.aimphotonics.com and on LinkedIn @AIM Photonics.