Topical White Paper: A Case for Quantum Memories in Space
Mustafa Gündoğan, Thomas D. Jennewein, Faezeh Kimiaee Asadi, Elisa Da Ros, Erhan Sağlamyürek, Daniel Oblak, Tobias Vogl, Daniel Rieländer, Jasminder S. Sidhu, Samuele Grandi, Luca Mazzarella, Julius Wallnöfer, Patrick M. Ledingham, Lindsay J. LeBlanc, Margherita Mazzera, Makan Mohageg, Janik Wolters, Alexander Ling, Mete Atatüre, Hugues de Riedmatten, Daniel K. L. Oi, Christoph Simon, Markus Krutzik
It has recently been theoretically shown that Quantum Memories (QM) could enable truly global quantum networking when deployed in space thereby surpassing the limited range of land-based quantum repeaters. Furthermore, QM in space could enable novel protocols and long-range entanglement and teleportation applications suitable for Deep-Space links and extended scenarios for fundamental physics tests. In this white paper we will make the case for the importance of deploying QMs to space, and also discuss the major technical milestones and development stages that will need to be considered.
It has recently been theoretically shown that Quantum Memories (QM) could enable truly global quantum networking when deployed in space thereby surpassing the limited range of land-based quantum repeaters. Furthermore, QM in space could enable novel protocols and long-range entanglement and teleportation applications suitable for Deep-Space links and extended scenarios for fundamental physics tests. In this white paper we will make the case for the importance of deploying QMs to space, and also discuss the major technical milestones and development stages that will need to be considered.
Abstract Global-scale quantum communication links will form the backbone of the quantum internet. However, exponential loss in optical fibres precludes any realistic application beyond few hundred kilometres. Quantum repeaters and space-based systems offer solutions to overcome this limitation. Here, we analyse the use of quantum memory (QM)-equipped satellites for quantum communication focussing on global range repeaters and memory-assisted (MA-) QKD, where QMs help increase the key rate by synchronising otherwise probabilistic detection events. We demonstrate that satellites equipped with QMs provide three orders of magnitude faster entanglement distribution rates than existing protocols based on fibre-based repeaters or space systems without QMs. We analyse how entanglement distribution performance depends on memory characteristics, determine benchmarks to assess the performance of different tasks and propose various architectures for light-matter interfaces. Our work provides a roadmap to realise unconditionally secure quantum communications over global distances with near-term technologies.
Academia, governments, and industry around the world are on a quest to build long-distance quantum communication networks for a future quantum internet. Using air and fiber channels, quantum communication quickly faced the daunting challenge of exponential photon loss with distance. Quantum repeaters were invented to solve the loss problem by probabilistically establishing entanglement over short distances and using quantum memories to synchronize the teleportation of such entanglement to long distances. However, due to imperfections and complexities of quantum memories, ground-based proof-of-concept repeater demonstrations have yet been restricted to metropolitan-scale distances. In contrast, direct photon transmission from satellites through empty space faces almost no exponential absorption loss and only quadratic beam divergence loss. A single satellite successfully distributed entanglement over more than 1,200 km. It is becoming increasingly clear that quantum communication over large intercontinental distances (e.g., 4,000–20,000 km) will likely employ a satellite-based architecture. This could involve quantum memories and repeater protocols in satellites, or memory-less satellite-chains through which photons are simply reflected, or some combination thereof. Rapid advancements in the space launch and classical satellite communications industry provide a strong tailwind for satellite quantum communication, promising economical and easier deployment of quantum communication satellites.
Networked entanglement is an essential component for a plethora of quantum computation and communication protocols. Direct transmission of quantum signals over long distances is prevented by fibre attenuation and the no-cloning theorem, motivating the development of quantum repeaters, designed to purify entanglement, extending its range. Quantum repeaters have been demonstrated over short distances, but error-corrected, global repeater networks with high bandwidth require new technology. Here we show that error corrected quantum memories installed in cargo containers and carried by ship can provide a flexible connection between local networks, enabling low-latency, high-fidelity quantum communication across global distances at higher bandwidths than previously proposed. With demonstrations of technology with sufficient fidelity to enable topological error-correction, implementation of the quantum memories is within reach, and bandwidth increases with improvements in fabrication. Our approach to quantum networking avoids technological restrictions of repeater deployment, providing an alternate path to a worldwide Quantum Internet.
A large scale quantum network requires the distribution of high-fidelity end-to-end entanglement. To overcome the range limitations inherent to terrestrial fiber, a leading architecture has emerged: satellite-based sources transmitting entanglement to quantum repeaters on the ground. By bridging the gap between abstract analytical frameworks and computationally heavy numerical simulations, this paper provides the first quantitative answer to the question of such a network's achievable performance with current and near-term space technology, while accounting for entanglement swapping and purification. This is achieved by integrating a detailed physical model of a satellite-to-ground link into an analytical entanglement resource estimation framework for quantum repeaters, enabling an optimization of the end-to-end entanglement rate. Our analysis, performed across leading quantum hardware platforms, shows that Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations combined with quantum repeaters employing Neutral Atom or Nitrogen and Silicon Vacancy qubits, could enable a global quantum network, distributing entanglement over distances up to 20,000 km, sufficient for connecting any two points on Earth. This work highlights the major bottlenecks in space and quantum hardware technologies, which need to be addressed, thereby guiding informed investments necessary for enabling a large scale quantum network.
Networked entanglement is an essential component for a plethora of quantum computation and communication protocols. Direct transmission of quantum signals over long distances is prevented by fibre attenuation and the no-cloning theorem, motivating the development of quantum repeaters, designed to purify entanglement, extending its range. Quantum repeaters have been demonstrated over short distances, but error-corrected, global repeater networks with high bandwidth require new technology. Here we show that error corrected quantum memories installed in cargo containers and carried by ship can provide a exible connection between local networks, enabling low-latency, high-fidelity quantum communication across global distances at higher bandwidths than previously proposed. With demonstrations of technology with sufficient fidelity to enable topological error-correction, implementation of the quantum memories is within reach, and bandwidth increases with improvements in fabrication. Our approach to quantum networking avoids technological restrictions of repeater deployment, providing an alternate path to a worldwide Quantum Internet.
The quantum internet, when finally deployed, will enable a plethora of new applications such as theoretically proven secure communication and networked quantum computing, much the same as its classical counterpart whose development began back in the 1990’s. The task of creating a globe-spanning quantum network, however, is proving a rather difficult task due to the detrimental effect of loss on photon transmission. This problem can in theory be solved using so-called quantum repeaters. In one of the most well-known configurations, the long-distance span is divided into smaller segments—so called elementary links—at whose ends pairs of entangled photons are generated. One photon per pair is stored in a quantum memory, and the second member is transmitted via optical fiber to a remote measurement stations positioned at the centre of the segment. There, a joint measurement of the two photons, one from each end, then heralds the distribution of entanglement between the two quantum memories, i.e. heralds entanglement over the elementary link. In the final step, all neighbouring links are combined via a second joint measurement, and end-to-end entanglement is created...