Boron Nitride and Quantum Light Integrated Detectors and Emitters – BONI_and_QLIDE

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has recently emerged as a very promising two-dimensional material for quantum information applications. It combines high-quality single-photon sources that can be controllably positioned, with the ability to realise integrated photonic circuits, opening the way to efficient monolithic quantum processors. Furthermore, it is compatible with both standard and high-critical-temperature superconducting materials.

The BONI and QLIDE project is based on recent advances achieved by the consortium in these fields, and will aim to remove the technological barriers towards top-down, fully deterministic fabrication that is compatible with scaling up.

The project will deploy a joint effort in the relevant fields to achieve this goal. On the one hand, it will lead to the development of nanofabrication techniques for hBN photonic components, and to the deterministic and heralded creation of quantum emitters allowing their insertion into photonic circuits (cavities coupled to waveguides). It will also enable the monolithic integration of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors, as well as the photonic enhancement of their performances. This includes the development of integrated high-Tc superconducting detectors. Finally, it will lead to the implementation of cutting-edge quantum optical techniques for the optimal control of the quantum emitters that enable efficient and robust indistinguishable photon emission.

Thanks to these achievements, the project will produce the first prototype of a fully integrated top-down device demonstrating quantum interference from distinct sources on a chip, paving the way for practical applications, both at low and high temperature.