Quantum communication, which ensures absolute data security, is one of the most advanced branches of the “second quantum revolution”. In quantum communication, the participating parties can detect any attempt at eavesdropping by resorting to the fundamental principle of quantum mechanics – a measurement affects the measured quantity. Thus, the mere existence of an eavesdropper can be detected by identifying the traces that his measurements of the communication channel leave behind.
The major drawback of quantum communication today is the slow speed of data transfer, which is limited by the speed at which the parties can perform quantum measurements.
Researchers at Bar-Ilan University’s Department of Physics and Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials have devised a method that overcomes this “speed limit”, and enables an increase in the rate of data transfer by more than 5 orders of magnitude (nearly one million times)! Their findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Homodyne detection is a cornerstone of quantum optics, acting as a fundamental tool for processing quantum information. However, the standard homodyne method suffers from a strong bandwidth limitation. While quantum optical phenomena, exploited for quantum communication, can easily span a bandwidth of many THz, the standard processing methods of this information are inherently limited to the electronically accessible MHz-to-GHz range, leaving a dramatic gap between the relevant optical phenomena that is used for carrying the quantum information, and the capability to measure it. Thus, the rate at which quantum information can be processed is strongly limited.
In their work, the researchers replace the electrical nonlinearity that serves as the heart of homodyne detection, which transforms the optical quantum information into a classical electrical signal, with a direct optical nonlinearity, transforming the quantum information into a classical optical signal. Thus, the output signal of the measurement remains in the optical regime, and preserves the enormous bandwidth optical phenomena offers.
“What we’ve done is to offer a direct optical measurement that conserves the information bandwidth, instead of an electrical measurement that compromises the bandwidth of the quantum optical information,” says Dr. Yaakov Shaked, who conducted the research during his Ph.D. studies in the lab of Prof. Avi Pe’er. To demonstrate this idea, the researchers perform a simultaneous measurement of an ultra-broadband quantum optical state, spanning 55THz, presenting non-classical behavior across the entire spectrum. Such a measurement, using standard method, would be practically impossible.
The research was accomplished through collaboration between the Quantum Optics Labs of Prof. Avi Pe’er and Prof. Michael Rosenbluh, together with Yoad Michael, Dr. Rafi Z. Vered and Leon Bello at the Department of Physics and Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at Bar-Ilan University.
This new form of quantum measurement is relevant also to other branches of the “second quantum revolution”, such as quantum computing with super powers, quantum sensing with super sensitivity, and quantum imaging with super resolution.
The Latest on: Quantum communication
[google_news title=”” keyword=”quantum communication” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Quantum communication
- Advancing quantum networks: Study achieves largest photon emission enhancement for single T center to dateon March 28, 2024 at 8:20 am
Rice University engineers have demonstrated a way to control the optical properties of atomic imperfections in silicon material known as T centers, paving the way toward leveraging these point defects ...
- Toshiba Joins Forces with Ciena for Quantum Security Communication Demonstrationon March 27, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Toshiba will demonstrate its quantum secure communication platform with Ciena, a global leader in networking systems, services, and software, at OFC Conference 2024. The quantum secure link will ...
- Canadian scientists pioneer breakthrough in quantum communicationon March 27, 2024 at 2:35 pm
The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Waterloo in Canada, marks significant progress in the field of quantum communication. They focused on generating pairs of perfectly entangled ...
- More Efficient Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computingon March 27, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Novel designs reduce the hardware overhead for error correction in simulations.
- NSA fears quantum computing surprise: ‘If this black swan event happens, then we’re really screwed’on March 27, 2024 at 7:45 am
The National Security Agency fears a quantum computing breakthrough by America’s adversaries would jeopardize the security of the global economy and allow foes to peer inside top-secret communications ...
- Toshiba, Ciena Collaborate to Demonstrate Quantum Secure Communication at OFCon March 26, 2024 at 6:00 am
Toshiba will demonstrate its quantum secure communication platform with Ciena (NYSE:CIEN), a global leader in networking systems, services, and software, at OFC Conference 2024. The quantum secure ...
- Secure quantum communication is one step closer to realityon March 25, 2024 at 12:05 pm
At the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), researchers have made a tremendous advancement in the realm of quantum communication.
- The world is one step closer to secure quantum communication on a global scaleon March 25, 2024 at 4:31 am
Researchers at the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) have brought together two Nobel prize-winning research concepts to advance the field of quantum communication.
- The world is one step closer to secure quantum communication on a global scaleon March 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The world is one step closer to secure quantum communication on a global scale Date: March 25, 2024 Source: University of Waterloo Summary: Researchers have brought together two Nobel prize ...
via Bing News