PDK Platforms
Comparative analysis of 4 integrated photonic platforms for AGE-TGI-2S3/IDS + QEC implementation
Comparative Summary
Key parameters of each platform for AGE-TGI-2S3/IDS + QEC
| Platform | Material | Loss/seg | 1 - Feff | εlog (d=5) | εlog (d=13) | Logical qubits (d=5) | Logical qubits (d=13) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORNERSTONE | Si 220nm | 0.103 dB | 4.76×10-2 | 7.18×10-3 | 1.4×10-6 | 62 | 24 |
| IMEC iSiPP50G | Si 220nm | Lowest | Best ratio | Best ratio | ~10-9 | 660 | 254 |
| VTT SiN | SiN | Variable | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | — | — |
| Luxtelligence GF | Si | Variable | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | — | — |
CORNERSTONE Si 220nm Active 1310nm
The CORNERSTONE Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) platform offers integrated silicon photonic circuits with a 220nm-thick guiding layer, operating in the 1310nm band. It is one of the most accessible platforms for rapid prototyping of photonic quantum circuits, with a mature PDK ecosystem and extensive documentation.
Our analyses with AGE-TGI-2S3/IDS + QEC on this platform establish the project's reference values. The optical loss per segment results in an effective per‑segment fidelity generating a physical error 1 - Feff at competitive levels. With the mini-QEC d=5 code, we obtain dozens of logical qubits, and with strong QEC d=13, several tens of logical qubits.
Reference Parameters
- Guide layer thickness
- 220 nm
- Wavelength
- 1310 nm
- Loss/segment
- 0.103 dB/seg
- Logical qubits
- 62 (d=5) / 24 (d=13)
Best‑in‑Class Platform
The leading platform in our comparison is manufactured with a state‑of‑the‑art optimized process, offering the lowest optical losses among the analyzed platforms, which translates directly into the highest reported logical qubit capacity.
With AGE-TGI-2S3/IDS + QEC, this platform achieves hundreds of logical qubits with d=5 and over two hundred with d=13, a substantial improvement factor over other platforms. This advantage comes from lower losses in couplers and phase shifters, reducing the physical error per segment and consequently the QEC logical error.
The platform includes components optimized for telecommunications, with high-speed electro-optic modulators and integrated germanium detectors. These components are directly relevant for implementing fast phase shifters (operator B) and the photon detection required by the QEC code.
Key Parameters
- Manufacturer
- IMEC
- Technology
- Si 220nm optimized
- Modulator speed
- 50 Gbps
- Position
- Best platform
Our best‑in‑class platform leads the comparison thanks to its lower optical losses and higher integration density, offering a large factor more logical qubits than other platforms.
VTT SiN
The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) offers a silicon nitride (SiN) platform for integrated photonic circuits. SiN exhibits extremely low propagation losses across a broad spectral range, from visible to mid-infrared, making it ideal for long-distance photonic interconnects and quantum sensing applications.
The main advantage of SiN for AGE-TGI-2S3/IDS + QEC lies in its low propagation losses, which reduce loss-induced error in waveguide segments between active components. However, the absence of an electro-optic effect in SiN requires slower thermal modulators for implementing operator B, increasing control complexity and gate execution time.
VTT provides a complete PDK with parameterized cells for MMI couplers, resonant rings, and low-loss waveguides, facilitating the design of custom quantum circuits.
VTT SiN Features
- Material:
- Silicon Nitride (SiN)
- Propagation loss:
- < 0.1 dB/cm
- Spectral range:
- Visible – Mid-IR
- Modulation:
- Moderate (thermal)
- Advantage:
- Ultra-low loss
Luxtelligence GF (Glasgow Foundry)
Luxtelligence is the foundry service of the University of Glasgow, offering access to silicon photonic circuit fabrication through Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) runs. The platform stands out for its flexibility in custom design and its focus on academic research, with competitive access costs for research groups.
The Glasgow Foundry PDK includes basic components (waveguides, MMI couplers, phase shifters, gratings) with calibrated compact models. For AGE-TGI-2S3/IDS + QEC, the platform offers a good balance between performance and accessibility, although optical losses do not reach the best‑in‑class levels.
The main advantage of Luxtelligence GF is the possibility of highly customized designs with rapid iterations, facilitating the exploration of novel quantum circuit architectures and the optimization of individual components (asymmetric couplers, compact phase shifters).
GF Features
- Institution:
- University of Glasgow
- Access:
- MPW runs
- Flexibility:
- Rapid and affordable prototyping