Breakthrough silicon chip fuses photonics and quantum generators

Researchers from Boston University, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern University have developed the world’s first integrated electronic–photonic–quantum chip using standard 45-nanometer semiconductor technology. This breakthrough device combines twelve synchronized quantum light sources, known as “quantum light factories,” on a single chip, each generating correlated photon pairs essential for quantum computing, sensing, and secure communication. The chip integrates microring resonators, on-chip heaters, photodiodes, and embedded control logic to maintain real-time stabilization of the quantum light generation process, overcoming challenges posed by temperature fluctuations and manufacturing variations. The innovation lies in embedding a real-time feedback control system directly on the chip, enabling continuous correction of misalignments and drift, which is critical for scalable quantum systems. The team successfully adapted quantum photonics design to meet the stringent requirements of a commercial CMOS platform, originally developed for AI and supercomputing interconnects. This collaboration demonstrates that complex quantum photonic systems can be reliably built and stabilized within commercial semiconductor