The Quantum Engineering project

Quantum engineering is all about exploiting the counter-intuitive features of quantum mechanics to develop disruptive technologies: The ability to isolate single quantum objects and to prepare them in superposed or entangled states lies at the basis of the so-called Second Quantum revolution, which holds the promise to compute faster, communicate in a more secure manner and measure more precisely than in the classical world.
If some of the basic proof of concepts have been implemented in the lab, these ground-breaking technologies have barely reached the industrial sphere. Further more, their philosophical and societal implications are still widely unexplored. Our project aims to overcome some of the major bottlenecks of the field, by taking advantage of the unique concentration of technological know-how, scientific and human expertises, and industrial network present in Grenoble.

Organized along 6 workpackages

  • WP1 Quantum processors & Simulators
    Physics / Computer science / Industry
    (Coordinator: T. Meunier) We will implement an elementary quantum algorithm on a solid-state platform. At the present time spin based or photonic based quantum computation are especially promising, building on the high level expertise in Grenoble (fig1)
  • WP2 Quantum architecture and software
    Computing / Physics / Maths
    (Coordinator: M. Mhalla) We will build a common paradigm for physicists and computer scientists. To a large extent, the (layman) experimental physicist still focuses on realizing universal single and two-qubit gates within the standard framework of circuit quantum computation. On the other hand, a computer scientist focuses on algorithms, and their implementation with (i) architectures (hardware) and (ii) languages (software).
  • WP3 Qubit/Photon interfaces
    Physics / Maths / Industry
    (Coordinator: A. Joye) The most common proposals for quantum computing require that information in “storage” qubits can be transferred to photons, which carry this information to other computing nodes, or other quantum computers.
  • WP4 Quantum sensing
    Physics / Industry
    (Coordinator: J.-M. Gérard). In this WP we shall work on two complementary fronts. Josephson parametric amplifiers are currently used for amplifying quantum signals, as they come close to the quantum limit of amplification (i.e. minimal noise), but they suffer from intrinsic drawbacks, e.g. narrow bandwidth and low saturation power.
  • WP5 Energetics of quantum computing
    Physics / Maths / Industry
    (Coordinator: R. Whitney) The aim of this WP is to quantitatively investigate the energetic costs related to quantum computation. It will bridge the gap between quantum thermodynamics and industry.
  • WP6 Philosophical and societal challenges of quantum technologies
    Social and Human sciences / Physics
    (Coordinator: S. Louvel). Here we aim to explore philosophical questions raised by the quantum world as well as societal challenges posed by quantum technologies, in particular the issue of integrating citizens in the technological and scientific choice processes.