This paper introduces Alquor, the quantum photonic processor developed by QuiX Quantum, and explains what it means for an interferometer to be photonic integrated, programmable and multiport. Alquor is built on the TriPleX silicon nitride platform, which allows efficient scaling, phase-stable operation and the lowest propagation losses on the market.
The first sections cover the applications of Alquor in quantum information processing, from single- and multi-qubit manipulation, multi-photon interference and boson sampling through to quantum walks and molecular vibronic spectra, as well as alternative uses in quantum cryptography, quantum random number generation, optical network switching and optical power grid distribution. The paper then explains the operation principle, starting from the Mach-Zehnder unit cell, and describes the main parts of the system: the photonic assembly, the control unit and its integration into an existing experimental setup. Alquor is the core technology behind the QuiX Quantum photonic processor.
This paper is for researchers who want to understand how a programmable multiport interferometer works, and who want to learn how Alquor can replace complex free-space optical setups in their lab.