UCF Researchers Unlock Scalable Entanglement for Next-Generation Quantum Computing
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Researchers at the University of Central Florida have achieved an advance in scalable quantum entanglement, a development critical for building practical quantum computers and enhancing quantum sensing technologies.
The team, led by Florida Photonics Center of Excellence Endowed Professor of Optics and Photonics Andrea Blanco-Redondo, demonstrated the use of a platform to precisely control dissipation, overcoming a key limitation in the field. This breakthrough allows for the creation of increasingly complex entangled states of light while maintaining stability, a crucial step toward realizing the full potential of quantum computation. “To produce truly useful quantum computers, we need complex, entangled states of light that are robust to imperfections,” says Blanco-Redondo; the findings are detailed in a new study published in Science. High-Dimensional Entanglement via Topological Photonic Superlattices Scaling quantum entanglement beyond previous limits is now achievable through a novel approach utilizing topological photonic superlattices, according to research published in Science by a team at the College of Optics and Photonics at UCF. Quantum computing holds the promise of solving currently intractable problems, from drug discovery to cybersecurity, but realizing that potential hinges on creating stable and scalable qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information. Researchers have long recognized that entanglement, a uniquely quantum phenomenon linking the fates of two or more particles, is crucial for both quantum computation and quantum sensing.
The team, led by Professor Andrea Blanco-Redondo, focused on topological modes, special pathways for light propagation that are inherently resistant to imperfections within a system. Their breakthrough centers on superlattices, structures known to support these protected modes, and a method for entangling multiple states within them. Previously, scaling up the number of entangled topological states presented a fundamental challenge; “We had shown the fundamental piece, but we didn’t know how to scale up,” she says. The solution involved manipulating silicon photonic waveguide arrays, essentially rearranging the pathways for light, without increasing the overall complexity of the system. “We can do it in a way that doesn’t increase the complexity of the system,” Blanco-Redondo states, describing a configuration that supports numerous co-localized protected modes. This allows for a larger capacity to encode quantum information while maintaining resilience against errors. “We have figured out a way to entangle the topological protected modes of superlattices,” she summarizes, emphasizing the increased stability and information-carrying capacity of these newly created entangled states. This work builds on previous successes, including a 2025 feature in Nature Materials demonstrating the use of a platform to precisely control the dissipation, or loss, of states of light, and contributes to broader efforts within the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology to establish the state as a quantum technology hub.
Silicon Waveguide Arrays Enable Scalable Quantum States The pursuit of practical quantum computers currently hinges on overcoming a fundamental challenge: building systems capable of maintaining and manipulating large numbers of entangled qubits. While individual qubits have been demonstrated with increasing precision, scaling up these fragile quantum states remains a significant hurdle; previous methods often introduced instability as complexity increased. This team, led by Professor Andrea Blanco-Redondo, has demonstrated a method for entangling topological modes within these silicon structures, effectively increasing the capacity for encoding quantum information without sacrificing stability. Topological modes, protected by the overall properties of the system, are inherently resistant to imperfections, a critical advantage for maintaining coherence.
The team’s findings, recently published in Science, detail a technique for displacing waveguides to support multiple co-localized protected modes, rather than being limited to just one. The ability to generate robust, scalable entangled states is “crucial to be able to…facilitate those operations,” according to Blanco-Redondo, and represents a significant step forward in realizing the transformative potential of quantum computing and sensing technologies. It’s been shown that entanglement entails advantages for both quantum computing and quantum sensing. CREOL’s Quantum Silicon Photonics Group Advances Entanglement While quantum computers promise to revolutionize fields from medicine to cybersecurity by solving currently intractable problems, realizing this potential hinges on manipulating qubits, the quantum equivalent of classical bits, and maintaining their delicate entangled states. Blanco-Redondo explains the power of this approach, noting a quantum model could “evaluate all those millions of different routes instantaneously” compared to traditional computational methods when applied to logistical challenges. Recent findings, published in Science, detail a method for generating and scaling these entangled states using topological modes within superlattices, structures known to protect quantum information from environmental noise. This advancement isn’t solely about quantity; it’s about quality and capacity. The resulting entangled states are more robust and capable of encoding greater amounts of quantum information, both essential for building stable and powerful quantum systems. “It’s a great boost of motivation,” Blanco-Redondo says, anticipating increased collaboration and momentum for their initiative. And we are starting to collaborate very closely, combining our expertise in different areas to build quantum infrastructure and capabilities, which leverage our leading position in optics and photonics and give us a distinctive advantage. FAQT & UCF Initiatives Position Florida for Quantum Leadership Florida is actively establishing itself as a significant player in the burgeoning field of quantum technology, driven by collaborative initiatives between the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology (FAQT) and the University of Central Florida (UCF). Recent advancements at UCF’s College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) demonstrate a pathway toward more stable and powerful quantum computers, addressing a critical hurdle in scaling up these complex systems. Researchers are focused on harnessing the potential of light, or photonics, to create robust qubits, the fundamental building blocks of quantum computation, capable of solving problems currently intractable for even the most powerful conventional computers. This entanglement, where two photons share a linked quantum state, is crucial for both quantum computing and quantum sensing, as “it’s been shown that entanglement entails advantages for both quantum computing and quantum sensing,” she adds. Beyond fundamental research, UCF is actively fostering a collaborative ecosystem through initiatives like the Quantum Leap Initiative and the UCF Quantum Initiative. Blanco-Redondo emphasizes the importance of this unified approach, stating, “We are at a point in which we are joining forces, and we are starting to collaborate very closely, combining our expertise in different areas to build quantum infrastructure and capabilities, which leverage our leading position in optics and photonics and give us a distinctive advantage.” FAQT is accelerating its industry outreach efforts, as demonstrated by the 2026 CREOL Industrial Affiliates Symposium, which brought together leaders across academia, industry and government, further solidifying Florida’s ambition to become a leading hub for quantum technology, with the recent Science publication providing “a great boost of motivation” for continued momentum. To produce truly useful quantum computers, we need complex, entangled states of light that are robust to imperfections.
Professor Andrea Blanco-Redondo Source: https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-researchers-unlock-scalable-entanglement-for-next-generation-quantum-computing/ Tags: