Abstract
Fusion-based quantum computing is an attractive model for fault-tolerant computation based on photonics requiring only finite-sized entangled resource states followed by linear-optics operations and photon measurements. Large-scale implementations have so far been limited due to the access only to probabilistic photon sources, vulnerability to photon loss, and the need for massive multiplexing. Deterministic photon sources offer an alternative and resource-efficient route. By synergistically integrating deterministic photon emission, adaptive repeat-until-success fusions, and an optimised architectural design, we propose a complete blueprint for a photonic quantum computer using quantum dots and linear optics. It features time-bin qubit encoding, reconfigurable entangled-photon sources, and a fusion-based architecture with low optical connectivity, significantly reducing the required optical depth per photon and resource overheads. We present in detail the hardware required for resource-state generation and fusion networking, experimental pulse sequences, and exact resource estimates for preparing a logical qubit. We estimate that one logical clock cycle of error correction can be executed within microseconds, which scales linearly with the code distance. We also simulate error thresholds for fault-tolerance considering a full catalogue of intrinsic error sources found in real-world quantum dot devices. Our work establishes a practical blueprint for a low-optical-depth, emitter-based fault-tolerant photonic quantum computer.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Martin Hayhurst Appel and Matthias Löbl for fruitful discussions. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (DNRF 139, Hy-Q Center for Hybrid Quantum Networks), the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Challenge project ``Solid-Q”), and Danmarks Innovationsfond (IFD1003402609, FTQP). M.L.C. acknowledges funding from Danmarks Innovationsfond (Grant No. 4298-00011B). A.A.C. acknowledges funding from UK EPSRC (EP/SO23607/1). S.P. acknowledges funding from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship project QSun (Grant No. 101063763), the VILLUM FONDEN research grants No.~VIL50326 and No.~VIL60743, and support from the NNF Quantum Computing Programme.
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P.L. is founder of the company Sparrow Quantum which commercializes single-photon sources. M.L.C. is an employee at Sparrow Quantum. The other authors declare no competing financial or non-financial interest.
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Chan, M.L., Capatos, A.A., Lodahl, P. et al. Practical blueprint for low-depth photonic quantum computing with quantum dots. npj Quantum Inf (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-026-01258-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-026-01258-3
