Researchers at the University of Central Florida announced on Mar. 26 a new scalable method for generating complex, entangled states of light that could advance quantum computing and sensing technologies. The study, led by Professor Andrea Blanco-Redondo and her team at the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), was published in Science.
The breakthrough is significant because quantum computers use qubits—quantum bits capable of occupying multiple states—to solve problems far faster than classical computers. Entanglement, a key property in quantum systems, enables advantages in both computing and sensing applications.
“To produce truly useful quantum computers, we need complex, entangled states of light that are robust to imperfections,” said Blanco-Redondo. She explained that their work demonstrates “a scalable way to generate more and more complex entangled states, maintaining topological protection of those entangled states.” This approach increases both the robustness against imperfections and the capacity for encoding quantum information—qualities critical for stable large-scale quantum systems.
The team achieved this by rearranging silicon photonic waveguide arrays to support many co-localized protected modes instead of just one. “We can do it in a way that doesn’t increase the complexity of the system,” Blanco-Redondo said. The result is an enhanced ability to encode information resiliently using topologically protected photonic modes.
This research follows another recent publication from CREOL’s Quantum Silicon Photonics group in Nature Materials (2025), where they demonstrated precise control over dissipation properties leading to robust topological features in light-based platforms. The developments come as part of broader efforts by organizations like the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology (FAQT) to position Florida as a hub for quantum innovation.
“It’s a great boost of motivation,” Blanco-Redondo said about their Science publication. She added that increased exposure could benefit CREOL’s initiatives as faculty build momentum through collaborative projects such as CREOL’s Quantum Leap Initiative and UCF’s Quantum Initiative.
