Semiconductor Quantum Technologies for Communications and Computing

The field of quantum optics offers new ways to compute, communicate, and measure with quantum states. Recent advances in materials, quantum control, and nanofabrication now open the prospect for scalable quantum technologies based on solid-state quantum systems. In particular, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) now allow routing photons with high precision and low loss, and atom-like systems in semiconductors enable spin-based quantum memories that can be coupled to these optical circuits. The first part of this talk will review our recent progress in adapting one of the leading PIC architectures"”silicon photonics"”for various quantum secure communications protocols. The second part of the talk will consider how PIC technology, integrated with quantum memories, can extend the reach of quantum communications and form the basis of modular quantum computers.
Dirk Englund received his BS in Physics from Caltech in 2002. Following a Fulbright year at TU Eindhoven, he earned an MS in electrical engineering and a PhD in Applied Physics in 2008, both from Stanford University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University until 2010, when he started his group as Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and of Applied Physics at Columbia University. In 2013, he joined the faculty of MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Dirk's research focuses on quantum technologies based on semiconductor and optical systems.

Recent recognitions include the 2011 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the 2011 Sloan Research Fellowship in Physics, the 2012 DARPA Young Faculty Award, an 2012 IBM Faculty Award, an 2016 R&D100 Award, and the 2017 OSA Adolph Lomb Medal.