In recent years, with the continuous realization of new breakthroughs in quantum science in the fields of quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum network, quantum technology has received more and more attention and is considered to be one of the representative directions for the development of new qualitative productivity. In Shanghai, Jin Xianmin, a Changjiang scholar and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, has been deeply engaged in the field of optical quantum information for 20 years, bravely entered the "no man's land", and achieved breakthroughs in key core technologies.
What is quantum? How will it change the world we live in? With curiosity about the future, Kim Hyun-min leads us into the "quantum world".
"It's a combination of light and electricity, and we can see a chip on top of it. Walking into the laboratory, Jin Xianmin introduced a new generation of technology known as "optical quantum computing chips" to reporters.
Optical quantum computing chip, is a kind of use of optical quantum characteristics for computing microchip, optical signals at a speed of 300,000 kilometers per second in the fingernail-sized line running, quantum computing makes the computing power increase exponentially, and can break through the limitations of the traditional chip process, it is also the world's major countries are chasing breakthroughs in new technology.
Optimistic about the opportunity of "corner overtaking" in this field, Jin Xianmin led the team to open up the whole chain of technical capabilities of optical quantum computing chips from design, tape-out, packaging and testing. "We're doing it now, and we're about 4 or 5 weeks, about a month, and we're going to complete an iteration and tape-out, which is about 10 to 11 times faster. Kim Hyun-min said.
In 2010, Jin Xianmin, a young scientist born in the 80s, graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China with a Ph.D.; then joined the team at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom to study for a postdoctoral fellow to carry out cross-research on photonic chips and quantum information; in November 2014, Jin Xianmin returned to China and entered Shanghai Jiao Tong University to establish an integrated quantum information technology research center.
However, at that time, the domestic research on optical quantum was still in its infancy, and resources, talents, and technology were relatively insufficient. With the support of the school, it took Kim Hyun Min more than 4 years to establish an independent team and gain a firm foothold.
"He worked very hard, working more than 15 hours a day, I was a Ph.D. student at the time, and when I came out of the laboratory after work, I saw that his laboratory was always working with the lights on, and he persisted for four or five years, so I think Mr. Jin must be a person who can get things done. Zhou Peiqi, who was studying for a doctorate at Shanghai Jiao Tong University at the time, told reporters.
In 2018, Jin Xianmin prepared the world's largest three-dimensional integrated optical quantum computing integrated chip and demonstrated a real space two-dimensional quantum walk, which was rated as one of the top ten advances in Chinese optics by authoritative journals that year.
Out of the laboratory, in 2021, Jin Xianmin founded "Turing Quantum" in the Science and Technology Innovation Park across the street from the campus of Jiaotong University, putting scientific research achievements into practice and exploring industrial innovations such as quantum computing empowering artificial intelligence large model training, financial technology, and biomedical research and development.
"In the direction of quantum computing chip-based and integrated, we are a world-class team. At the same time, relying on the advantages of the Yangtze River Delta, we have set up China's first photonic chip pilot line in Wuxi to support the country's new quality productivity in the field of quantum science and technology. Kim Hyun-min said.
Under the leadership of Jin Xianmin, in the R&D base of Turing Quantum, a team with an average age of no more than 30 years old is constantly exploring and innovating in unknown areas.
In their eyes, just as the steam engine and computers have brought great changes to the world, the era of quantum technology will definitely come. In the future, perhaps human beings can really manipulate these quantum states like magicians, quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum precision measurement will bring a subversive new generation of technology applications.
"Our slogan is 'Nothing Difficult', which is to always break the unknown, and this state is constantly exciting. Yang Lesi, a member of Kim Hyunmin's team, told reporters.
Take a look at the news reporters: Kim Puqing, Zhang Jun
Editor: Kim Puqing
Editor-in-charge: Shi Yucheng