Sbir phase i: a tunable source of on-demand single and entangled photons

Icarus Quantum Inc. received a $305,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The project focuses on developing a tunable source of on-demand single and entangled photons by evaluating the feasibility of generating high-fidelity, polarization-entangled photon pairs using semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). The company will embed quantum dot chips incorporating p-i-n junctions in optical cavities with controlled mechanical strain to eliminate fine structure splitting and achieve deterministic entangled photon generation. This technology aims to deliver a commercial-grade entangled photon generator by 2028, offering over 70-fold efficiency improvements compared to current technologies.

The project represents a critical advancement toward realizing quantum networking infrastructure and data center-scale quantum computing capabilities. Building on prior collaborative work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) demonstrating high-purity, indistinguishable single photons exceeding industry benchmarks, this Phase I effort will establish the technical foundation for quantum interconnect applications across pharmaceuticals, materials discovery, finance, secure communications, and government defense systems. The resulting entangled photon source technology is positioned to accelerate the transition toward quantum advantage by reducing system costs while enabling modular quantum computing and supporting the distribution of entangled photon pairs necessary for a functional quantum internet.

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this small business innovation research (sbir) phase i project lies in its potential to shape the quantum economy, unlocking new applications across fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to optimization and finance. Successful implementation of both short- and long-range quantum networking will provide the foundational infrastructure for data center-scale quantum computing and secure communication - two critical pillars for the future security of governments and industries alike. The proposed entangled photon device offers over 70-fold improvement in efficiency compared to current technologies, reducing system cost while accelerating the transition toward quantum advantage. By enabling modular quantum computing and supporting the distribution of entangled photon pairs, the proposed technology represents a necessary step toward realizing a functional quantum internet. The project aims to deliver a commercial-grade entangled photon generator by 2028. This small business innovation research (sbir) project aims to evaluate the feasibility of generating high-fidelity, polarization-entangled photon pairs with high efficiency using semiconductor quantum dots (QDS). In strategic collaboration with NIST, the company has already demonstrated the ability to produce high-purity, indistinguishable single photons that surpass industry benchmarks, positioning IT to advance toward deterministic entangled photon generation. The proposed project will utilize a QD chip, incorporating a p-i-n junction to stabilize the charge environment, embedded in an optical cavity and subjected to controlled mechanical strain to eliminate fine structure splitting by restoring QD symmetry. This approach ensures indistinguishability in all degrees of freedom except polarization, resulting in a high-fidelity entangled photon source. Embedding the QD in a cavity also reduces its radiative lifetime, enabling a high-rate, lifetime-limited entangled photon pair generation. The projected outcome of this project is a compact, chip-scale entangled photon generator, serving as a foundational component in the company?s planned turnkey device for scalable quantum networking. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.