TRUMPF, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), and the Durham Center for Complex Quantum Systems at the Physics Department of the Free University of Berlin are conducting fundamental research on laser physics using quantum algorithms. Its long-term goal is to significantly accelerate the development process of new lasers using quantum computers in the future.

A deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms of laser generation and amplification will help us create more efficient and high-performance products in the future.

—— Daniel Basilewitsch， Project Manager of Tongkuai

The core issue of the project is to verify whether quantum computers can simulate the complex quantum mechanical processes inside lasers more accurately than traditional high-performance computing systems.

　　Focusing on carbon dioxide CO2 and semiconductor lasers

The project research will focus on carbon dioxide CO2 lasers and semiconductor lasers. In addition to being applied in data transmission, smartphone sensor technology, and future autonomous driving fields, semiconductor lasers have become the core of most industrial laser applications as pump light sources or direct applications. The impact of using quantum algorithms to predict amplification characteristics more accurately may be enormous, "said Carlo Holly, head of the Data Science and Measurement Technology Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and Professor of Optical Systems Technology at RWTH Aachen University." Our goal is to use quantum computers to calculate the quantum mechanical processes in semiconductor lasers. However, the widespread application of quantum computers in the industrial field still requires time. Although the first prototypes have been developed, they are currently unable to handle complex industrial tasks.

But we must start accumulating professional knowledge from now on to lay the foundation for the future application of quantum computers in the industrial field.

—— Daniel Basilewitsch， Project Manager of Tongkuai

　　Strong alliance, each showcasing their strengths

In this collaboration, all parties involved will fully leverage their unique advantages: the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) is at the forefront of semiconductor laser simulation, while the Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems is at the forefront of molecular collision modeling. TRUMPF is developing the first batch of quantum algorithms and coordinating the project. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has provided approximately 1.8 million euros in funding support for the project through its "Application oriented Quantum Informatics" funding program.

Researchers are debugging a precision optical platform in the laboratory

The research team will first systematically analyze existing simulation methods and test the initial quantum algorithm. The core of the project is to transform the physical model of ideal and unexpected energy transfer processes in carbon dioxide CO2 lasers from classical computers to quantum computers. A deeper understanding of these processes will help optimize laser design, "explained Professor Christiane Koch from the Free University of Berlin.

This project is an important step towards promoting sustainable development in the high-energy consumption chip manufacturing industry, and our carbon dioxide CO2 laser is widely used in this field.

—— Daniel Basilewitsch， Project Manager of Tongkuai