Mikaeel Yunus
Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scholar
Design of Quantum Photonic Device Components Using MEEP
2018–2019
EECS
- Devices
Dirk R. Englund
With the impending end of Moore’ s law, we must investigate novel ways to process information. Quantum technologies are one such avenue, with practical applications in computation and communication. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is a quantum memory with exceptional properties, including a long quantum coherence and spin-coupled optical transitions. The Englund group aims to integrate this memory into solid-state and scalable photonic devices for large-scale quantum information processing. This research aims to design two critical components of such a platform: First, grating couplers will be designed to maximize the coupling between a photonic mode and a free-space mode. Second, the interface between cladded and uncladded waveguides will be optimized to maximize transmission.
I am particularly excited about working in Professor Englund’ s lab because of the implications of his research. If his project succeeds, we will be closer to having quantum computers operating at room temperature with the power to outperform every standard digital binary computer combined. I am honored to be a part of Professor Englund’ s team and thrilled that I will be able to play a part in the search for quantum supremacy.