NIST and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County are developing hardware to link light-based quantum data with atomic memory, a key step for future quantum networks. They have successfully tested a source that creates entangled photon pairs, where one photon travels through fiber optics and the other interacts with cesium atoms. This system demonstrates a working connection between “flying” information carriers and stationary storage, operating at high speeds with strong signal quality to prove the concept is viable.
The team is now proposing improvements to make the photons more precise, which is essential for reliable communication with quantum memories. By incorporating a special structure into the light source, they aim to narrow the frequency of the photons, allowing for better interaction with atoms. This research is currently in the experimental phase, but it provides the foundation for future technical standards in quantum communication, with widespread implementation still in development.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/itl/entangled-photon-pair-sources
Keywords: entangled photon pairs, PPKTP waveguide, quantum memory
