Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Science

Building blocks of a quantum network

Ian S. Osborne

Published Jun 11, 2015• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum Optics
A successful quantum-based communication network will require several components that can reliably store, manipulate, retrieve, and retransmit quantum-encoded information. Being robust, fast, and capable of traveling long distances, photons are ideal quantum information carriers.
DOI
10.1126/science.348.6240.1219-g

Related papers

Catching a flying photon

Ian S. Osborne

Quantum Optics Single photons are ideal carriers of quantum information because they are fast, robust, and capable of traveling long distances. An interconnected quantum network, however, will require these information carriers to be stored and processed at node points, or memories. Much effort is

Science•Aug 31, 2017•0 citations

A dynamic quantum memory

Ian S. Osborne

Quantum Networks Photons, being robust and fast, are ideal carriers of quantum information in long-distance quantum networks. For a practical communication platform, the photons also need to be manipulated at the local level at nodes or exchange points across the network, and this requires information to be reliably encoded, stored, and retrieved from the photonic qubits. Craiciu et al. demonstrate such functionality using an ensemble of erbium ions embedded within a solid-state matrix of yttrium orthosilicate. With the ions operating as a dynamic quantum memory for photons at communication wavelengths and the approach being compatible with integrated photonics, the results offer promise for possible integration into large-scale optical fiber networks. Optica 8 , 114 (2021).

Science•Feb 11, 2021•1 citation

Quantum networking with photons and trapped atoms (Invited)

David L. Moehring, M. J. Madsen, Kelly Cooper Younge +5 more

Distributed quantum information processing requires a reliable quantum memory and a faithful carrier of quantum information. Atomic qubits have very long coherence times and are thus excellent candidates for quantum information storage, whereas photons are ideal for the transport of quantum information as they can travel long distances with a minimum of decoherence. We discuss the theoretical and experimental combination of these two systems and their use for not only quantum information transfer but also scalable quantum computation architectures.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jan 26, 2007•71 citations

Quantum networks based on single atoms in optical cavities

Stephan Ritter, Christian Nölleke, Carolin Hahn +7 more

The distribution of quantum information as well as the utilization of non-locality are at the heart of quantum networks, which show great promise for future applications like quantum communication, distributed quantum computing and quantum metrology. Their practical realization however is a formidable challenge. On the one hand, the state of the respective quantum system has to be under perfect control, ideally in all degrees of freedom. This requires low decoherence, i.e. minimal interaction with the environment. But at the same time, strong, tailored interactions are required to enable all envisioned processing tasks. In this respect, single atoms and photons are the ideal building blocks of a quantum network. Atoms can act as stationary nodes as they are long-lived and their interaction with the environment is weak, while their external and internal degree of freedom can precisely be controlled and manipulated. Photons can be transmitted over larger distances using existing fiber technology and do not mutually interact.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2013•0 citations

Making photons stick around awhile

I. S. Osborne

Optics Photons are ideal carriers of information because they are fast, robust, and capable of long-distance travel, which has made optical networks the backbone of the communications industry. But for optical processing purposes, the photons must be slowed down, stored, and manipulated; processes

Science•Apr 21, 2016•0 citations

Symmetric photons make good communicators

I. S. Osborne

Quantum Communication Future communication networks will be based on quantum mechanics and will rely on the ability to store quantum information in quantum nodes and transfer that information between them. Photons offer the ability to transfer information over long distances, but that requires that single photons be emitted and detected reliably at each end of the communication channel—a feat that requires the photons to be symmetric. Using a superconducting-based quantum circuit, Pechal et al. demonstrate how to generate the symmetric microwave photons that will be necessary to carry quantum information successfully. Phys. Rev. X 4 , 041010 (2014).

Science•Nov 20, 2014•0 citations
Quantum Networks Photons, being robust and fast, are ideal carriers of quantum information in long-distance quantum networks. For a practical communication platform, the photons also need to be manipulated at the local level at nodes or exchange points across the network, and this requires information to be reliably encoded, stored, and retrieved from the photonic qubits. Craiciu et al. demonstrate such functionality using an ensemble of erbium ions embedded within a solid-state matrix of yttrium orthosilicate. With the ions operating as a dynamic quantum memory for photons at communication wavelengths and the approach being compatible with integrated photonics, the results offer promise for possible integration into large-scale optical fiber networks. Optica 8 , 114 (2021).
Distributed quantum information processing requires a reliable quantum memory and a faithful carrier of quantum information. Atomic qubits have very long coherence times and are thus excellent candidates for quantum information storage, whereas photons are ideal for the transport of quantum information as they can travel long distances with a minimum of decoherence. We discuss the theoretical and experimental combination of these two systems and their use for not only quantum information transfer but also scalable quantum computation architectures.
The distribution of quantum information as well as the utilization of non-locality are at the heart of quantum networks, which show great promise for future applications like quantum communication, distributed quantum computing and quantum metrology. Their practical realization however is a formidable challenge. On the one hand, the state of the respective quantum system has to be under perfect control, ideally in all degrees of freedom. This requires low decoherence, i.e. minimal interaction with the environment. But at the same time, strong, tailored interactions are required to enable all envisioned processing tasks. In this respect, single atoms and photons are the ideal building blocks of a quantum network. Atoms can act as stationary nodes as they are long-lived and their interaction with the environment is weak, while their external and internal degree of freedom can precisely be controlled and manipulated. Photons can be transmitted over larger distances using existing fiber technology and do not mutually interact.
Quantum Communication Future communication networks will be based on quantum mechanics and will rely on the ability to store quantum information in quantum nodes and transfer that information between them. Photons offer the ability to transfer information over long distances, but that requires that single photons be emitted and detected reliably at each end of the communication channel—a feat that requires the photons to be symmetric. Using a superconducting-based quantum circuit, Pechal et al. demonstrate how to generate the symmetric microwave photons that will be necessary to carry quantum information successfully. Phys. Rev. X 4 , 041010 (2014).