DESC0023579
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Highly efficient low loss fiber-chip light coupling for quantum networks.
Awardee
Funding Goals
HIGHLY EFFICIENT LOW LOSS FIBER-CHIP LIGHT COUPLING FOR QUANTUM NETWORKS
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Oakland,
California
94618-1767
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 02/20/24 to 03/31/25 and the total obligations have increased 550% from $199,926 to $1,299,921.
Highri Optics was awarded
Project Grant DESC0023579
worth $1,299,921
from the Office of Science in February 2023 with work to be completed primarily in Oakland California United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years 1 months and
was awarded through assistance program 81.049 Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY2023 Phase I Release 1.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
Highly Efficient Low Loss Fiber-Chip Light Coupling for Quantum Networks
Abstract
Superconducting and photonic qubits are the leading platforms for quantum computation, now and for the foreseeable future, and will provide essential functionality to large-scale quantum networks. To achieve this, techniques are needed to coherently convert between the microwave states used by the qubits and optical states required for long-distance communication, a conversion that needs to occur at cryogenic temperature (< 100 mK). This is an active field of research that follows several parallel technicalities, which are hampered by one common bottleneck: the ability to efficiently couple light between optical fibers and Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) waveguides. The inefficiency of current coupling schemes not only reduces the fidelity of the interconversion by photon loss, but light scattered from fiber-to-chip interfaces is highly detrimental to qubits and other superconducting circuit elements that are needed for the interconversion process. HighRI Optics Inc., in collaboration with Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and BBN Raytheon, proposes to develop a novel lensed fiber for efficient fiber-to-chip coupling. The high refractive index lens will be imprinted on a single-mode fiber facet with an in-house fiber imprinter. Such a lens can still function in polymer mediums used for photonic packaging and can efficiently focus light into the waveguide while bonded at room or cryogenic temperature. This method can lead to low-cost manufacturing to accelerate commercialization, and the method is broadly adaptable for the photonic packaging community. Packaging of integrated photonic circuits (PIC) or miniaturized medical devices requires tedious placement and active alignment of the various micro-optical elements to each other. Coupling losses lead to significant contributions to the link power budget for digital computing and communications applications. The technological goal of this project applies only to quantum networks but also to the integrated photonics packaging currently in use, especially in telecommunications and data centers.
Topic Code
C55-04b
Solicitation Number
None
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 4/8/24
Period of Performance
2/21/23
Start Date
3/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$1.3M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$1.3M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to DESC0023579
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DESC0023579
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
892430 SC CHICAGO SERVICE CENTER
Funding Office
892401 SCIENCE
Awardee UEI
VV7JKMTEEKF7
Awardee CAGE
8BDT5
Performance District
CA-12
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alejandro Padilla
Alejandro Padilla
Budget Funding
Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Science, Energy Programs, Energy (089-0222) | General science and basic research | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $199,926 | 100% |
Modified: 4/8/24