Grant: Alliance Grants

The goal of this partnership is to develop a novel micro- and quantum-integrated timing device for frequency referencing and communication micro-chip that will be translated into an industry-ready prototype. Quantum-enhanced optomechanical sensing uses photonic light to measure and manipulate mechanical objects to make them ultra-precise oscillators. A highly stable microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonating oscillator serves as the unerring heartbeat of modern electronics, ensuring precision and reliability in applications in many smart and connected devices widely used in our day-to-day lives. In the heart of all connected and smart devices is a small timing chip that is responsible for keeping time. A timing device uses a high-precision resonator to provide a reference frequency to measure time. This reference frequency-generating chip provide signals used to keep track of time, synchronize events in digital circuits, manage data transfer, define radio frequencies, and process signals. Currently, silicon MEMS resonator is limited by low temperature stability, resolution, and noise of the sensing system. However, with the surge in demand for more high-performance devices, researchers and industries are searching for alternatives using quantum technology solutions. Quantum sensing technologies have the potential to significantly improve the performance of silicon MEMS resonator devices by detecting weak and ultrasmall displacement signals of the MEMS resonator. However, there is no design available for MEMS and quantum timing devices. To address the demand, this project will develop a novel approach by developing a quantum optomechanical MEMS resonator for a cost-effective, low-powered but highly stable and accurate timing device by a synergic combination of alternate semiconductor composite material design and novel device design. The development of this proposed high-performance quantum sensing based timing micro-chip is expected to increase Canada's competitiveness in the emerging area of semiconductor, quantum technologies, and smart computing device technologies, be manufactured in Canada and create new economic opportunities.