Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have successfully demonstrated the transmission of an entangled quantum signal using multiple wavelength channels and automatic polarization stabilization over a commercial network with no downtime. This innovation brings us closer to creating a quantum internet that could be more capable and secure than existing networks.
The trial was conducted in partnership with EPB, a utility company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Joseph Chapman, an ORNL quantum research scientist, led the study, which used automatic polarization compensation to stabilize the polarization of a signal sent over EPB’s fiber-optic commercial quantum network.
The approach was tested using entangled photons generated by Muneer Alshowkan, an ORNL quantum research scientist, and remained stable with minimal added noise. David Wade, EPB’s CEO, and Reinhold Mann, vice chancellor for research at UTC, praised the partnership, which aims to advance quantum information science and technology.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a method to stabilize the polarization of photons transmitted through fiber-optic cables, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of quantum information in quantum networks. The team, led by Nick Chapman, used automatic polarization control (APC) to compensate for changes in the polarization of the photons caused by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
The study used entangled photon pairs transmitted through a 20-kilometer-long fiber-optic cable provided by EPB, a utility company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The researchers found that their APC method maintained the polarization’s stability with minimal added noise, which is essential for reliable quantum communication.
This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of quantum networks, which rely on the ability to transmit and manipulate quantum information over long distances. The ORNL team’s approach could create more robust and efficient quantum networks, which could have a wide range of applications in fields such as cryptography, materials science, and medicine.
The ORNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development program supported the research, the DOE Office of Science’s Advanced Scientific Computing Research program, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Quantum Initiative. The study demonstrates the importance of collaboration between researchers, industry partners, and government agencies in advancing quantum technology and driving innovation.
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