Project combining integrated photonics with superfluid helium wins funding
The Netherlands’ technology growth programme Quantum Delta NL, in collaboration with the Dutch Research Council (NWO), has awarded funding to six quantum-focused projects to be conducted at the University of Leiden. One of these projects, led by Dirk Bouwmeester, a professor at the university, will investigate the role that superfluid helium could play in quantum photonic technologies.
Superfluid helium is one of the most exotic forms of quantum matter and, analogous to superconductors, it can display discrete dissipation-free excitations, as desired for quantum memories and quantum computers. According to the research group, superfluid helium is also the ultimate optomechanical system, enabling light-matter interactions at the single quanta level, as needed for future quantum networks and for realising remote entanglement.
The scientists plan to combine integrated photonics with embedded superfluid nano-channels to control the interaction between light and acoustic helium waves to the level of individual photons and phonons. They hope that this approach will open up a wealth of new quantum technologies.
