arXiv subjects

Kevin C. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Kevin C. Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A digitally controlled silicon quantum processing unit

Commercially-relevant quantum computers will require large numbers of high-performing qubits that can be manufactured, integrated, and controlled at scale. Silicon exchange-only (EO) qubits are a strong candidate modality due to their control-signal simplicity and compatibility with advanced semiconductor manufacturing, but questions remain around the achievability of sufficiently low noise and a scalable control and wiring solution. Here we introduce a quantum processing unit composed of a custom-designed cryogenic CMOS controller, a novel high-density superconducting ribbon cable, and a low-noise EO qubit device. The quantum chip features a three-rail array of 54 exchange-coupled quantum dots, configurable to host up to 18 EO qubits. We integrate and use these components to demonstrate qubit performance for both single-qubit and entangling operations that advances the EO state of the art by an order of magnitude. We further validate this system by implementing a distance-5 repetition code and a quantum error detecting code then make detailed comparisons with simulations. Our approach facilitates a utility-scale quantum computer with manageable operational and capital requirements.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

A Bayesian Approach towards Atomically-precise Localization in Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized the imaging of complex physical and biological systems by surpassing the Abbe diffraction limit. Recent advancements, particularly in single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), have pushed localization below nanometer precision, by applying prior knowledge of correlated fluorescence emission from single emitters. However, achieving a refinement from 1 nm to 1 Angstrom demands a hundred-fold increase in collected photon signal. This quadratic resource scaling imposes a fundamental barrier in SMLM, where the intense photon collection is challenged by photo-bleaching, prolonged integration times, and inherent practical constraints. Here, we break this limit by harnessing the periodic nature of the atomic lattice structure. Applying this discrete grid imaging technique (DIGIT) in a quantum emitter system, we observe an exponential collapse of localization uncertainty once surpassing the host crystal's atomic lattice constant. We further applied DIGIT to a large-scale quantum emitter array, enabling parallel positioning of each emitter through wide-field imaging. Collectively, these advancements establish DIGIT as a competitive tool for achieving unprecedented, precise measurements, ultimately paving the way to direct optical resolution of crystal and atomic features within quantum and biological systems.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

High-Fidelity Control of a Strongly Coupled Electro-Nuclear Spin-Photon Interface

Long distance quantum networking requires combining efficient spin-photon interfaces with long-lived local memories. Group-IV color centers in diamond (SiV, GeV, and SnV) are promising candidates for this application, containing an electronic spin-photon interface and dopant nuclear spin memory. Recent work has demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in spin-photon coupling and spin-spin entanglement. However, coupling between the electron and nuclear spins introduces a phase kickback during optical excitation that limits the utility of the nuclear memory. Here, we propose using the large hyperfine coupling of SnV-117 to operate the device at zero magnetic field in a regime where the memory is insensitive to optical excitation. We further demonstrate ground state spin control of a SnV-117 color center integrated in a photonic integrated circuit, showing 97.8% gate fidelity and 2.5 ms coherence time for the memory spin level. This shows the viability of the zero-field protocol for high fidelity operation, and lays the groundwork for building quantum network nodes with SnV-117 devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

A scalable cavity-based spin-photon interface in a photonic integrated circuit

A central challenge in quantum networking is transferring quantum states between different physical modalities, such as between flying photonic qubits and stationary quantum memories. One implementation entails using spin-photon interfaces that combine solid-state spin qubits, such as color centers in diamond, with photonic nanostructures. However, while high-fidelity spin-photon interactions have been demonstrated on isolated devices, building practical quantum repeaters requires scaling to large numbers of interfaces yet to be realized. Here, we demonstrate integration of nanophotonic cavities containing tin-vacancy (SnV) centers in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Out of a six-channel quantum micro-chiplet (QMC), we find four coupled SnV-cavity devices with an average Purcell factor of ~7. Based on system analyses and numerical simulations, we find with near-term improvements this multiplexed architecture can enable high-fidelity quantum state transfer, paving the way towards building large-scale quantum repeaters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Heterogeneous integration of spin-photon interfaces with a scalable CMOS platform

Color centers in diamonds have emerged as a leading solid-state platform for advancing quantum technologies, satisfying the DiVincenzo criteria and recently achieving a quantum advantage in secret key distribution. Recent theoretical works estimate that general-purpose quantum computing using local quantum communication networks will require millions of physical qubits to encode thousands of logical qubits, which presents a substantial challenge to the hardware architecture at this scale. To address the unanswered scaling problem, in this work, we first introduce a scalable hardware modular architecture "Quantum System-on-Chip" (QSoC) that features compact two-dimensional arrays "quantum microchiplets" (QMCs) containing tin-vacancy (SnV-) spin qubits integrated on a cryogenic application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). We demonstrate crucial architectural subcomponents, including (1) QSoC fabrication via a lock-and-release method for large-scale heterogeneous integration; (2) a high-throughput calibration of the QSoC for spin qubit spectral inhomogenous registration; (3) spin qubit spectral tuning functionality for inhomogenous compensation; (4) efficient spin-state preparation and measurement for improved spin and optical properties. QSoC architecture supports full connectivity for quantum memory arrays in a set of different resonant frequencies and offers the possibility for further scaling the number of solid-state physical qubits via larger and denser QMC arrays and optical frequency multiplexing networking.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Resource-efficient simulation of noisy quantum circuits and application to network-enabled QRAM optimization

Giovannetti, Lloyd, and Maccone [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 160501] proposed a quantum random access memory (QRAM) architecture to retrieve arbitrary superpositions of $N$ (quantum) memory cells via $O(\log(N))$ quantum switches and $O(\log(N))$ address qubits. Towards physical QRAM implementations, Chen et al. [PRX Quantum 2, 030319] recently showed that QRAM maps natively onto optically connected quantum networks with $O(\log(N))$ overhead and built-in error detection. However, modeling QRAM on large networks has been stymied by exponentially rising classical compute requirements. Here, we address this bottleneck by: (i) introducing a resource-efficient method for simulating large-scale noisy entanglement, allowing us to evaluate hundreds and even thousands of qubits under various noise channels; and (ii) analyzing Chen et al.'s network-based QRAM as an application at the scale of quantum data centers or near-term quantum internet; and (iii) introducing a modified network-based QRAM architecture to improve quantum fidelity and access rate. We conclude that network-based QRAM could be built with existing or near-term technologies leveraging photonic integrated circuits and atomic or atom-like quantum memories.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Hyperfine Spectroscopy of Isotopically Engineered Group-IV Color Centers in Diamond

A quantum register coupled to a spin-photon interface is a key component in quantum communication and information processing. Group-IV color centers in diamond (SiV, GeV, and SnV) are promising candidates for this application, comprising an electronic spin with optical transitions coupled to a nuclear spin as the quantum register. However, the creation of a quantum register for these color centers with deterministic and strong coupling to the spin-photon interface remains challenging. Here, we make first-principles predictions of the hyperfine parameters of the group-IV color centers, which we verify experimentally with a comprehensive comparison between the spectra of spin active and spin neutral intrinsic dopant nuclei in single GeV and SnV emitters. In line with the theoretical predictions, detailed spectroscopy on large sample sizes reveals that hyperfine coupling causes a splitting of the optical transition of SnV an order of magnitude larger than the optical linewidth and provides a magnetic-field insensitive transition. This strong coupling provides access to a new regime for quantum registers in diamond color centers, opening avenues for novel spin-photon entanglement and quantum sensing schemes for these well-studied emitters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

A diamond nanophotonic interface with an optically accessible deterministic electronuclear spin register

A contemporary challenge for the scalability of quantum networks is developing quantum nodes with simultaneous high photonic efficiency and long-lived qubits. Here, we present a fibre-packaged nanophotonic diamond waveguide hosting a tin-vacancy centre with a spin-1/2 $^{117}$Sn nucleus. The interaction between the electronic and nuclear spins results in a signature 452(7) MHz hyperfine splitting. This exceeds the natural optical linewidth by a factor of 16, enabling direct optical nuclear-spin initialisation with 98.6(3)% fidelity and single-shot readout with 80(1)% fidelity. The waveguide-to-fibre extraction efficiency of our device of 57(6)% enables the practical detection of 5-photon events. Combining the photonic performance with the optically initialised nuclear spin, we demonstrate a spin-gated single-photon nonlinearity with 11(1)% contrast in the absence of an external magnetic field. These capabilities position our nanophotonic interface as a versatile quantum node in the pursuit of scalable quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

A fully packaged multi-channel cryogenic module for optical quantum memories

Realizing a quantum network will require long-lived quantum memories with optical interfaces incorporated into a scalable architecture. Color centers quantum emitters in diamond have emerged as a promising memory modality due to their optical properties and compatibility with scalable integration. However, developing a scalable color center emitter module requires significant advances in the areas of heterogeneous integration and cryogenically compatible packaging. Here we report on a cryogenically stable and network compatible quantum-emitter module for memory use. This quantum-emitter module is a significant development towards advanced quantum networking applications such as distributed sensing and processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Multiplexed control of spin quantum memories in a photonic circuit

A central goal in many quantum information processing applications is a network of quantum memories that can be entangled with each other while being individually controlled and measured with high fidelity. This goal has motivated the development of programmable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) with integrated spin quantum memories using diamond color center spin-photon interfaces. However, this approach introduces a challenge in the microwave control of individual spins within closely packed registers. Here, we present a quantum-memory-integrated photonics platform capable of (i) the integration of multiple diamond color center spins into a cryogenically compatible, high-speed programmable PIC platform; (ii) selective manipulation of individual spin qubits addressed via tunable magnetic field gradients; and (iii) simultaneous control of multiple qubits using numerically optimized microwave pulse shaping. The combination of localized optical control, enabled by the PIC platform, together with selective spin manipulation opens the path to scalable quantum networks on intra-chip and inter-chip platforms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Zero-Added-Loss Entangled Photon Multiplexing for Ground- and Space-Based Quantum Networks

We propose a scheme for optical entanglement distribution in quantum networks based on a quasi-deterministic entangled photon pair source. By combining heralded photonic Bell pair generation with spectral mode conversion to interface with quantum memories, the scheme eliminates switching losses due to multiplexing. We analyze this `zero-added-loss multiplexing' (ZALM) Bell pair source for the particularly challenging problem of long-baseline entanglement distribution via satellites and ground-based memories, where it unlocks additional advantages: (i) the substantially higher channel efficiency $η$ of \textit{downlinks} vs.\ \textit{uplinks} with realistic adaptive optics, and (ii) photon loss occurring \textit{before} interaction with the quantum memory -- i.e., Alice and Bob receiving rather than transmitting -- improve entanglement generation rate scaling by $\mathcal{O}(\sqrtη)$. Based on numerical analyses, we estimate our protocol to achieve $>$10$~$ebits/s at memory multiplexing of $10^2$ spin qubits for ground distance $>$10$^2~$km, with the spin-spin Bell state fidelity exceeding 99$\%$. Our architecture presents a blueprint for realizing global-scale quantum networks in the near-term.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Modular chip-integrated photonic control of artificial atoms in diamond nanostructures

A central goal in creating long-distance quantum networks and distributed quantum computing is the development of interconnected and individually controlled qubit nodes. Atom-like emitters in diamond have emerged as a leading system for optically networked quantum memories, motivating the development of visible-spectrum, multi-channel photonic integrated circuit (PIC) systems for scalable atom control. However, it has remained an open challenge to realize optical programmability with a qubit layer that can achieve high optical detection probability over many optical channels. Here, we address this problem by introducing a modular architecture of piezoelectrically-actuated atom-control PICs (APICs) and artificial atoms embedded in diamond nanostructures designed for high-efficiency free-space collection. The high-speed 4-channel APIC is based on a splitting tree mesh with triple-phase shifter Mach-Zehnder interferometers. This design simultaneously achieves optically broadband operation at visible wavelengths, high-fidelity switching ($> 40$ dB) at low voltages, sub-$μ$s modulation timescales ($> 30$ MHz), and minimal channel-to-channel crosstalk for repeatable optical pulse carving. Via a reconfigurable free-space interconnect, we use the APIC to address single silicon vacancy color centers in individual diamond waveguides with inverse tapered couplers, achieving efficient single photon detection probabilities (15$\%$) and second-order autocorrelation measurements $g^{(2)}(0) < 0.14$ for all channels. The modularity of this distributed APIC - quantum memory system simplifies the quantum control problem, potentially enabling further scaling to 1000s of channels.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Large-scale optical characterization of solid-state quantum emitters

Solid-state quantum emitters have emerged as a leading quantum memory for quantum networking applications. However, standard optical characterization techniques are neither efficient nor repeatable at scale. In this work, we introduce and demonstrate spectroscopic techniques that enable large-scale, automated characterization of color centers. We first demonstrate the ability to track color centers by registering them to a fabricated machine-readable global coordinate system, enabling systematic comparison of the same color center sites over many experiments. We then implement resonant photoluminescence excitation in a widefield cryogenic microscope to parallelize resonant spectroscopy, achieving two orders of magnitude speed-up over confocal microscopy. Finally, we demonstrate automated chip-scale characterization of color centers and devices at room temperature, imaging thousands of microscope fields of view. These tools will enable accelerated identification of useful quantum emitters at chip-scale, enabling advances in scaling up color center platforms for quantum information applications, materials science, and device design and characterization.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Photonic indistinguishability of the tin-vacancy center in nanostructured diamond

Tin-vacancy centers in diamond are promising spin-photon interfaces owing to their high quantum-efficiency, large Debye-Waller factor, and compatibility with photonic nanostructuring. Benchmarking their single-photon indistinguishability is a key challenge for future applications. Here, we report the generation of single photons with $99.7^{+0.3}_{-2.5}\%$ purity and $63(9)\%$ indistinguishability from a resonantly excited tin-vacancy center in a single-mode waveguide. We obtain quantum control of the optical transition with $1.71(1)$-ns-long $π$-pulses of $77.1(8)\%$ fidelity. A modest Purcell enhancement factor of 12 would enhance the indistinguishability to $95$\%. The greater than $100$ ms spectral stability shown would then enable strings of up to $10^6$ identical photons to be generated.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

A vertically-loaded diamond microdisk resonator spin-photon interface

We propose and optimize a vertically-loaded diamond microdisk resonator (VLDMoRt) coupled to a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond for efficient collection of zero-phonon-line emission into low numerical aperture ($\text{NA}$) free-space modes. The VLDMoRt achieves a Purcell enhancement of 172 with $39\%$ of the emitted light collected within a $\text{NA}$ of 0.6, leading to a total external spin-photon collection efficiency of 0.33. As the design is compatible with established nanofabrication techniques and couples to low-NA modes accessible by cryogenic free-space optical systems, it is a promising platform for efficient spin-photon interfaces based on diamond quantum emitters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum control of the tin-vacancy spin qubit in diamond

Group-IV color centers in diamond are a promising light-matter interface for quantum networking devices. The negatively charged tin-vacancy center (SnV) is particularly interesting, as its large spin-orbit coupling offers strong protection against phonon dephasing and robust cyclicity of its optical transitions towards spin-photon entanglement schemes. Here, we demonstrate multi-axis coherent control of the SnV spin qubit via an all-optical stimulated Raman drive between the ground and excited states. We use coherent population trapping and optically driven electronic spin resonance to confirm coherent access to the qubit at 1.7 K, and obtain spin Rabi oscillations at a rate of $Ω/2π$=3.6(1) MHz. All-optical Ramsey interferometry reveals a spin dephasing time of $T_2^*$=1.3(3)$μ$s and two-pulse dynamical decoupling already extends the spin coherence time to $T_2$=0.33(14) ms. Combined with transform-limited photons and integration into photonic nanostructures, our results make the SnV a competitive spin-photon building block for quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Scalable and High-Fidelity Quantum Random Access Memory in Spin-Photon Networks

A quantum random access memory (qRAM) is considered an essential computing unit to enable polynomial speedups in quantum information processing. Proposed implementations include using neutral atoms and superconducting circuits to construct a binary tree, but these systems still require demonstrations of the elementary components. Here, we propose a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) architecture integrated with solid-state memories as a viable platform for constructing a qRAM. We also present an alternative scheme based on quantum teleportation and extend it to the context of quantum networks. Both implementations rely on already demonstrated components: electro-optic modulators, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) network, and nanocavities coupled to artificial atoms for spin-based memory writing and retrieval. Our approaches furthermore benefit from built-in error-detection based on photon heralding. Detailed theoretical analysis of the qRAM efficiency and query fidelity shows that our proposal presents viable near-term designs for a general qRAM.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

A Polarization Encoded Photon-to-Spin Interface

We propose an integrated photonics device for mapping qubits encoded in the polarization of a photon onto the spin state of a solid-state defect coupled to a photonic crystal cavity: a `Polarization-Encoded Photon-to-Spin Interface' (PEPSI). We perform a theoretical analysis of the state fidelity's dependence on the device's polarization extinction ratio and atom-cavity cooperativity. Furthermore, we explore the rate-fidelity trade-off through analytical and numerical models. In simulation, we show that our design enables efficient, high fidelity photon-to-spin mapping.

quant-ph↗