Connecting Delicate Quantum Physics to Scalable Manufacturing: Room-Temperature Telecom Single-Photon Sources on Silicon Carbide
Speaker: A/Prof Stefania Castelletto
Affiliation: RMIT University
Abstract
The search for an ideal spin-photon interface—seamlessly bridging stationary quantum memory with flying qubits—is vital for scalable quantum computing and secure networks. Silicon carbide (SiC) has emerged as a leading semiconductor platform for these quantum emitters, combining excellent spin coherence with industry-standard manufacturing compatibility. In this talk, I will provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges within the rapidly growing landscape of SiC integrated quantum photonics. I will discuss our recent breakthroughs hosting spin-carrying erbium ions within CMOS-compatible silicon carbide-on-insulator (SiCOI) architectures. This platform natively emits light at telecom frequencies, eliminating the need for inefficient frequency conversion. Crucially, we demonstrate that these integrated sources operate reliably at room temperature. By nanofabricating the SiC into high-Q micro-ring resonators and nanopillars, we achieved a 70-fold signal enhancement and exceptionally narrow emission lines. These results confirm that fragile quantum properties successfully survive harsh chip fabrication on industry-standard wafers, paving a realistic path toward mass-producible quantum memories and plug-and-play quantum networks.
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