New optical fibers suitable for the era of quantum computing

Jul 30 () –

Physicists at the University of Bath have developed a new generation of optical fibres to meet the challenges of data transfer in the future era of quantum computing.

Quantum technologies promise to provide unprecedented computational power, enabling the solving of complex logic problems, the development of new medicines and provide unbreakable cryptographic techniques for secure communications.

However, the cable networks used today to transmit information around the world are likely not optimal for quantum communications, due to the solid cores of its optical fibers.

Unlike regular optical fibres, the special fibres manufactured in Bath have a microstructured core, consisting of a complex pattern of air pockets running the entire length of the fiber.

The pattern of these air pockets is what allows researchers to manipulate the properties of light within the fiber and create entangled pairs of photons, change the color of the photons, or even trap individual atoms within the fibers.

“Conventional optical fibers, which are the workhorse of our telecommunications networks today, transmit light at wavelengths that are entirely governed by the losses of silica glass. However, these wavelengths are not compatible with the operating wavelengths of single-photon sources, qubits, and active optical components, which are required for light-based quantum technologies,” he explained. it’s a statement Kristina Rusimova, from Bath’s Department of Physics and lead author of the study, which is published in Applied Quantum Physics Letters.

In their perspective, the researchers analyze the challenges associated with quantum Internet from the perspective of fiber optic technology and present a series of possible solutions for the scalability of a robust and large-scale quantum network.

This covers both fibers that will be used for long-range communication and special fibers that will allow the integration of quantum repeaters directly into the network. to extend the distance over which this technology can operate.

They also describe how special optical fibers can go beyond connecting nodes in a network to implement quantum computing at the nodes themselves by acting as sources of entangled single photons, quantum wavelength converters, low-loss switches, or containers for quantum memories.