Quantum computing has the potential to solve problems beyond the capabilities of conventional supercomputers. It could revolutionize the advancement of several fields, including biochemistry, finance, logistics, and artificial intelligence. Building a quantum information processing using integrated silicon photonics provides the advantage of a scalable platform based on silicon manufacturing.
The NSERC CREATE Quantum BC and NUCLEUS programs, along with FABrIC—a project funded by the Government of Canada and managed by CMC Microsystems—bring to you a workshop on the design, fabrication, and testing of quantum silicon photonic circuits used in quantum information processing hardware.
The workshop will teach participants how to design, simulate, fabricate, and test their own quantum silicon photonic circuits. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of quantum optics and how photonics can be used for quantum computing, and the types of problems that can be solved on photonic-based processors. During the workshop, students will practice creating a design and layout of a quantum silicon photonic circuit. Students will brainstorm and pitch their circuit ideas to researchers at leading universities and industries. After the workshop, students will have several months to complete their design and submit their circuits for fabrication by a foundry facilitated by CMC. Participants will test their chips using equipment at their own university or by their own arrangements, such as via a collaboration with the workshop instructors and/or visits to their facilities.
Important Notes:
- The representing organizations of the interested participants will have to sign a 3-way Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with CMC Microsystems and Applied Nanotools Inc. This will provide presenters and participants with an opportunity to delve deeper into topics of interest in the course of the workshop. For access and more information regarding this document, please contact Jennifer Draper. The document submission deadline is April 28, 2025.
- In addition to the 3-way NDA, each participant is required to sign an Access to Intellectual Property NDA. This individual-based NDA is set in place to protect each designer’s intellectual rights from potential exposure to other participants during the design review sessions and other relevant group activities. For access and more information regarding this document please contact Sarah J. Neville. The submission deadline is April 28, 2025.
Target Attendees
The target audience for this workshop includes:
- FABrIC industry, not-for-profit, and government members with science or engineering backgrounds,
- Graduate students who have completed the UBC course Introduction to Quantum Computing,
- Graduate students who have completed the Université de Sherbrooke course PHY 737 Information et calcul quantiques (or PHY 637),
- Graduate students who have completed the Simon Fraser University course PHYS 816 Quantum Information Science,
- Graduate students who have completed the University of Waterloo’s quantum computing course,
- Other students, postdoctoral researchers, and academics with relevant backgrounds in science and/or engineering, and
- Others with relevant backgrounds in science and/or engineering.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Location |
| May 12 to 17, 2025 | 9 am to 5 pm PDT | MacLeod Building, room 3018 The University of British Columbia 2356 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC |
Content
The following topics, but not limited to, will be covered in the workshop:
- Introduction to silicon quantum photonics, quantum optics theory, and non-linear optics
- Introduction to quantum optical computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication.
- Introduction to silicon photonic components
- Photonic devices, including waveguides using Si and SiN, single-photon and photon pair sources, single-photon detectors, interferometers, etc.
- Quantum gates
- Photonic quantum circuit algorithms and circuit simulation
- Quantum photonics fabrication processes
- Physical implementation of quantum photonic devices
- Process design kit and layout-centric photonics design flow
- Test methods, equipment, facilities, and design for test rules
- Photonic quantum computing approaches discrete variable, continuous variable, etc.
- Applications of photonics-based quantum computing (including, but not limited to, quantum neural networks, quantum machine learning, and quantum state tomography)
Equipment Requirements
Attendees should bring their laptops to participate in all hands-on activities. However, it is recommended to use a Windows or Linux host PC, a Mac with a Linux or Windows Virtual Machine, or a remote desktop connection to your own Linux or Windows remote server.
Travel and Accommodations
Participants make their own arrangements for travel and accommodations. Recommendations include Affordable Hostels in Vancouver – UBC Accommodation , Visitor Housing, Carey House, TRIUMF House, UBC Suites, St. John’s College, Green College, and Airbnb.
