SmaraQ — Integrated Photonics With Aluminum Nitride and Oxide for Ion-Trap-Based Quantum Computing

Quantum computers based on ion trap technology offer excellent scalability and qubit quality, as the naturally identical ions are electrically fixed at defined positions on the chip by electrodes. The SmaraQ project is developing UV waveguides and photonic components for ion trap chips to enable robust, scalable quantum computers that meet the stringent requirements for error-free quantum operations for real-world applications.

Through chip integration, SmaraQ enables the miniaturization and scaling of ion trap quantum computers, which is not possible with cabinet-filling free-beam optics. A photonic solution in the UV range with polarization control represents a breakthrough for quantum computing, but can also be used, for example, for sensor technology or novel means of communication (augmented/virtual reality).