Project description
Developing long-lived, space-compatible quantum memories
Quantum experiments in space have led to many interesting technological advances that long-distance quantum communication (QC) could benefit from. However, the line of sight distance restricts the direct transmission of quantum information to a few thousand kilometres. One solution is to equip satellites with quantum memories. Furthermore, by observing gravitational effects on quantum systems, scientists could gain new perspectives in their search for a quantum theory of gravitation. Research into the long-lived entanglement of quantum matter systems in curved space-time could lead to new physical insights. The EU-funded QSPACE project therefore aims to develop a space-compatible, small-footprint laser-cooled quantum memory with storage times in the order of seconds. Such a system could surpass memoryless QC schemes with realistic memory performances.
Objective
Quantum experiments in space open up numerous interesting technological and scientific possibilities in the last years. Long-distance quantum communication (QC) is one of the first applications that would benefit from these advances as quantum information can be transferred over very long distances by satellites. However, this range is limited by the line-of sight distance which limits the direct transmission of quantum information to around few thousand kilometres. One solution to reach true global distances while relaxing the security assumptions used in satellite QC is to equip satellites with quantum memories (QMs). This would allow the implementation of satellite-based quantum repeater networks that could potentially cover global distances and increase the secret key rates by synchronising otherwise probabilistic detection events.
On the other hand, scientifically, the possibility of observing gravitational effects on quantum systems has the promise of bringing new perspectives into the search of a quantum theory of gravitation. In this regard, research into long-lived entanglement of quantum matter systems in curved space time could yield new physical insights. Along these lines we propose to develop a space-compatible, small-footprint laser-cooled quantum memory with storage times in the order of seconds. Our preliminary work suggests that such a system could beat the memory-less quantum communication schemes with realistic memory performances.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
10117 Berlin
Germany