This article highlights ongoing research by NIST’s Quantum Communications and Networking Project rather than a specific finalized standard or protocol. Led by Dr. Oliver Slattery, the team is developing foundational hardware—primarily single-photon sources and detectors—that can reliably create and capture individual particles of light. These components serve as the essential building blocks for future quantum networks, which would allow data to be transmitted in a way that makes unauthorized interception immediately detectable.
The initiative remains in the research and development phase, with no official implementation timeline currently announced. If refined successfully, these technologies could help transition quantum mechanics from laboratory experiments into practical information systems, laying the groundwork for a future quantum internet. NIST will continue testing and optimizing these devices, with real-world deployment likely depending on broader hardware improvements and cross-industry collaboration.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/itl/itl-speakers-bureau/quantum-science/oliver-slattery
Keywords: single-photon sources, quantum repeaters, frequency conversion