Project Details
Projekt
Bright sources of quantum light for efficient entanglement distribution
Subject Area
Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431487620
Humankind is currently experiencing a major technological revolution in which the subtle concepts of quantum physics, such as state-superposition and entanglement are now starting to be used for major new technologies. Amongst all the “quantum enabled” technologies being explored, photon-based quantum communication is of key-societal relevance since it facilitates absolutely secure data transmission between communicating parties. At the same time, recent stepchanging advances in fundamental science have now pushed it closest to real-world application, driven by progress in the development of novel semiconductor photonic nanomaterials, new understandings of quantum (spin) degrees of freedom in condensed matter systems and the possibility to apply techniques from the quantum optics toolbox to solidstate systems. While a number of impressive proof-of-concept demonstrations have already been made, distance scalability and photon-loss remain two of the primary issues that stop the development of photon powered quantum computers or networks. Suggestions to circumvent photon loss have been made using quantum repeaters (QR). However, the implementation of most QR protocols calls for the availability of performant quantum memories with exceptional write-in / read-out efficiencies and very long memory times exceeding milliseconds. Finding one physical system that simultaneously facilitates high photon-generation and -interaction rates, offers long memory times and, moreover, is scalable remains a major scientific challenge that has inhibited further progress.Recently, new types of multi-photon quantum states – so called cluster or graph states have been proposed as an entirely new resource for distributed quantum technologies. These states consist of a pulse of light containing many photons prepared in a highly-entangled state for which the quantum state of each photon is intricately linked to the others. Unlike single, separated photons, cluster states have an inbuilt high degree of redundancy; as photons are inevitably lost, quantum entanglement can still be shared among communicating parties by splitting cluster states and sending parts to each of the communicating parties. In this way, providing that some of the photons arrive at the communicating parties, entanglement can still be distributed. This kind of novel approach completely circumvents the need for highly performant quantum memories, one of the major obstacles that has hindered the development of reliable technologies for high-rate entanglement distribution to date.This DIP project brings together five scientists from three leading institutions in Israel and Germany in departments of Physics and Electronic Engineering, working in both experiment and theory. The participating researchers will design and test new protocols for high-rate entanglement distribution and realize highly performant, optically addressable and electrically tunable semiconductor-based spin-systems incorporated (...)
DFG Programme
DIP Programme
International Connection
Israel
Major Instrumentation
Arbitrary waveform generator
Single Quantum Superconduction Single Photon Detection Module
Single Quantum Superconduction Single Photon Detection Module
Instrumentation Group
5860 Laser-Leistungsmeßgeräte
