Researchers from the University of Bristol in the UK have made significant breakthroughs in expanding quantum technology. They integrated the world's smallest quantum photodetector onto a silicon chip. The relevant research was published in the 17th issue of the journal Scientific Progress.



The large-scale manufacturing of high-performance electronic and optoelectronic hardware is the foundation for achieving the next generation of advanced information technology. However, without truly scalable quantum technology hardware manufacturing processes, the benefits brought by quantum technology will not be fully presented.

Due to the fact that building a single machine may require a large number of components, the ability to manufacture high-performance quantum hardware on a large scale is crucial for quantum computing. To achieve this goal, researchers demonstrated a quantum photodetector. It is implemented on a chip with a circuit area of 80 microns by 220 microns.


It is crucial that small size means that quantum photodetectors can be faster, which is the key to unlocking high-speed quantum communication and achieving high-speed operation of optical quantum computers.

Researchers explain that this type of detector is called a homodyne detector. They can work at room temperature and can be used in quantum communication, extremely sensitive sensors (such as state-of-the-art gravitational wave detectors), and some quantum computers.

In 2021, the team demonstrated how to connect photon chips with individual electronic chips to improve the speed of quantum photodetectors. Now, they are using a single electron photon integrated chip, which has increased the speed by 10 times while reducing the area to one-fifty of the original.

These detectors are fast, small in size, and have not lost sensitivity to quantum noise, still able to measure quantum very accurately.
The researchers say that the next step will be to improve the efficiency of the new detector and test it in many different applications.