PDI Joins NSF-DFG Initiative for Quantum Photonic Circuit Materials Design

The Paul Drude Institute (PDI) is part of a new international research project focused on designing electro-optic materials for quantum photonic circuits, funded by the NSF's DMREF program in collaboration with the DFG. This initiative includes 104 researchers from 44 universities and features three main research thrusts: DFT-informed thermodynamics, phase-field simulations, and electrodynamics simulations.

The project aims to overcome the challenges of the mesoscale cliff in materials science, specifically for cryogenic electro-optic materials integrated on silicon. Key contributors include experts from Pennsylvania State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and PDI. The goal is to develop materials with EO coefficients exceeding 1000 pm/V to enhance performance in quantum computing and optical technologies.