Researchers at NIST have developed a quantum-based communication system that could revolutionize telecommunications by enabling ultra-low error rates in detecting even the faintest signals. The system, which uses off-the-shelf components, demonstrates that quantum measurement techniques can be scaled for widespread commercial use.
The key innovation is a novel receiver and signal-processing technique that leverages quantum principles to handle extremely weak signals with high accuracy. This could reduce the total energy required for state-of-the-art networks by a factor of 10 to 100.
The system works by encoding multiple bits of information into a single laser pulse and using quantum-enhanced receivers to detect and decode the signals with unprecedented accuracy. This approach could enable significantly higher data transmission rates while using less energy.
The NIST team’s proof-of-concept system achieved record-low error rates and demonstrated the potential for widespread commercial application of quantum measurement techniques in telecommunications.
Keywords: Quantum, Measurement, Communication, Energy, Efficiency
