How do we get quantum systems to ‘talk’ to each other? How can we distribute entanglement at global scales? I will describe our work tackling these challenges by using light as a robust mediator of quantum interactions between matter qubits- with a materials science flair. First, I overview the development of optically-active electron spins in silicon carbide as a platform to realize long-distance quantum links. These qubits uniquely combine world-record spin coherence, noiseless single photon emission, and nanophotonic device integration- all in a wafer-scale semiconductor material. I will then present our recent discovery of a quantum material with an electro-optic tunability orders of magnitude greater than leading systems, enabled by harnessing quantum phase transitions. This large cryogenic optical nonlinearity paves the way for photonic quantum computing, scaling of superconducting processors, and the microwave-to-optical transduction needed to link leading quantum systems to optical networks. These results highlight the power of controlling light with materials to enable a future quantum internet.
