The IrelandQCI project aims to deploy advanced national Quantum Critical Infrastructures systems and networks in Ireland. The advancement in technologies that will be achieved by the realisation of the IrelandQCI initiative include:
- reinforcement of Scientific and Technological capabilities in cybersecurity,
- improvement of industrial competitiveness,
- strengthening European digital sovereignty
The IrelandQCI team will establish Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) infrastructure along a major network backbone from Dublin to Cork via Waterford using a quantum channel integrated with existing classical fibre systems. QKD is a secure communication method for exchanging encryption keys known between shared parties alone. The communication method uses properties of quantum physics to exchange cryptographic keys in such a way that is provable and guarantees security.
In terms of packaging of photonic integrated circuits, the main outcome of this project is a standard set of optical and electrical design rules for users who are configuring their PICs for packaging. This includes design rules of fibre optic and micro optical packaging, as well as design rules for wirebonding and flipchip electrical packaging.
The design rules for photonic packaging provide a foundation for the development of advanced packaging solutions. These rules are specifically tailored to ensure compatibility with industry-standard technologies, enabling accurate optical alignment, precise electrical bonding, and effective thermal management.
You can access details of the IrelandQCI design rules here.
Guidelines cover:
-General PIC layout
-Direct fibre attach: edge coupling, grating coupling, micro-optics coupling, 3D-Printed MicroOptics using Two-photon polymerisation (2PP)
-Electrical packaging
By adhering to these guidelines, users can streamline the design process, minimise errors, and optimise performance. Following this set of design rules will also ensure users PIC chips can be packaged by IrelandQCI packaging partner and PIXAPP coordinator, Tyndall National Institute.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s DIGITAL Europe Programme under grant agreement No. 101091520
DIGITAL-2021-QCI-01 – EU secure Quantum Communication Infrastructure DEPLOY-NATIONAL – Deploying advanced national QCI systems and networks Project ID 101091520