QUantum Dot On Silicon systems for communications, information processing and sensing (QUDOS)

QUantum Dot On Silicon systems for communication, information processing and sensing (QUDOS) is a programme grant funded by UKRI-EPSRC to create the first optical integrated circuits on silicon with monolithically integrated quantum dot laser sources. 

The QUDOS programme, with a funding of £6.1 million, will investigate new ways of integrating all the parts that are needed for high capacity optical communications and signal processing on a single silicon chip.

The sensing, processing and transport of information is at the heart of modern life, as can be seen from the ubiquity of smart-phone usage on any street. From our interactions with the people who design, build and use the systems that make this possible, we have created a programme to make possible the first data interconnects, switches and sensors that use lasers monolithically integrated on silicon, offering the potential to transform Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by changing fundamentally the way in which data is sensed, transferred between and processed on silicon chips.

The work builds on our demonstration of the first successful telecommunications wavelength lasers directly integrated on silicon substrates. The QUDOS Programme will enable the monolithic integration of all required optical functions on silicon and will have a similar transformative effect on ICT to that which the creation of silicon integrated electronic circuits had on electronics. This will come about through removing the need to assemble individual components, enabling vastly increased scale and functionality at greatly reduced cost.

Below is a series of videos illustrating graphically the research work of the QUDOS programme.  This series of videos comprises -

• one overall video which gives an overview of the entire programme; and
• four individual videos with one on each of the research work of the following four partner universities in the QUDOS consortium -
  • UCL;
  • University of Southampton;
  • Cardiff University; and
  • University of Cambridge.

Overall Video

QUDOS Video 1 - UCL

QUDOS Video 2 - University of Southampton

QUDOS Video 3 - Cardiff University

QUDOS Video 4 - University of Cambridge