Project description
Secure quantum communications enabled by silicon carbide
A quantum internet will revolutionise communication technology by exploiting phenomena from quantum physics. Despite recent successes in the deployment of secure quantum cryptographic keys, the lack of telecom-wavelength repeaters operating at the quantum level presents a major bottleneck to realising a global-scale quantum communication network. The EU-funded QuanTELCO project will overcome this challenge by exploiting specific spin centres in silicon carbide which possess strong optical transitions in the telecom O-band. These quantum emitters furthermore host electronic and nuclear spins that can act as memories in quantum repeater nodes. Such a breakthrough should help create robust, transcontinental quantum information links compatible with existing infrastructure, ushering in the era of quantum-encrypted communications and networked quantum computing in Europe.
Objective
Quantum communication is a transformative technology that can address our society’s need for secure communication and form the backbone for networks of quantum computers. Despite recent successes in the deployment of secure quantum cryptographic keys, the unavailability of telecom-wavelength repeaters operating at the quantum level presents a major bottleneck towards a global-scale quantum communication network.
QuanTELCO will overcome this bottleneck by employing a radically transformative approach based on telecom-wavelength spin centres in silicon carbide, recently discovered by our consortium. These centres uniquely possess strong optical transitions in the telecom O-band (1260-1360 nm), in a material widely used by the micro-electronics industry. QuanTELCO will exploit a mature material platform (silicon carbide), fully compatible with standard industrial micro-electronic fabrication processes. The quantum emitters employed in QuanTELCO have optical cross sections that are orders of magnitude greater than many currently leading candidates. Their emission wavelength allows direct, low-loss propagation in existing telecom networks without the detrimental losses caused by wavelength conversion. These emitters host electronic and nuclear spins which can act as memories in quantum repeater nodes. QuanTELCO will leverage these properties to demonstrate all key elements of quantum networking. We will furthermore perform preparatory tests on existing, international telecom structure and will benchmark the spin-photon entanglement across urban-scale fibre links.
QuanTELCO will distil the project results to deliver a roadmap for commercial deployment based on real-world, actionable insight.
This platform will provide the breakthrough required for the creation of robust, transcontinental quantum information links, compatible with existing infrastructure, thereby ushering in the era of physically secure encryption and networked quantum computation across Europe.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computers
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsmicroelectronics
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
1010 Wien
Austria