talks.html.en - talks.html.en

Talks

Quantum Internet - The Certifiable Road Ahead

Stephanie Wehner, QuTech, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

In this talk, we will identify stages towards the development a full blown quantum internet. Each stage is characterized by a specific increase in network functionality at the expense of a matching increase in experimental difficulty.. We highlight some known application protocols that can be realized in the specific stages, and discuss simple tests to certify that a particular stage as been attained. Finally, we highlight some recent results that may be of interest to the community.

 

Quantum internet, routing protocols, and anonymous transmission

Iordanis Kerenidis, CNRS Paris, France

We will provide a model for quantum networks that enables us to use classical routing techniques to efficiently create entanglement between any two nodes in the network. We will also show new protocols for anonymous transmission of classical and quantum messages in a quantum network.

 

Asynchronous quantum clock synchronization by entanglement purification

Jonathan P. Dowling, Louisiana State University, USA

We examine the problem of performing asynchronous quantum clock synchronization between
distant parties. Previously a protocol for synchronizing clocks using shared entanglement was proposed by Jozsa and co-workers, but it was pointed out that in general there will be an unknown phase in the state which introduces an error to the synchronized time. We show that in fact entanglement purification can in fact remove the unknown phase, despite prior arguments to suggest the contrary. The key step is to performing random bilateral rotations, which creates a Werner state in the singlet state for the local basis choice. We show that the scheme produces a singlet state in the presence of differing basis conventions for Alice and Bob, an overall time offset in the execution of the purification algorithm, and the presence of a noisy channel. This allows for clock synchronization to be performed without either party having a common time reference. We discuss implementations of the protocol via shared entanglement between space-to-space and space-to-ground downlinks.

  

Certifying graph states and their use in quantum networks

Damian Markham, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France

 

Quantum network coding

Martin Roetteler, Microsoft Research

We design protocols for communication between parties that are connected by a network of quantum channels. We assume that there is no prior entanglement between any of the parties, but that classical communication is free. The task is to transfer an unknown quantum state from a source subsystem to a target subsystem under the constraints imposed by the network. We establish a connection t classical network coding and then show how this allows to convert any classical solution into a quantum protocol.

Base on joint work with Hirotada Kobayashi, Francois Le Gall, Harumichi Nishimura (https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.1457), and Niel de
Beaudrap (https://arxiv.org/abs/1403.3533).

 

Ultimate performance of repeater-assisted quantum communications

Stefano Pirandola, University of York, England

We study the ultimate rates for transmitting quantum information, distributing entanglement, and generating secret keys via quantum repeaters, from the basic scenario of a single repeater chain to an arbitrarily-complex quantum communication network, where systems may be routed through single or multiple paths. Combining methods from quantum information and network theory, we derive single-letter upper bounds for the end-to-end capacities that are achievable by the most general adaptive protocols of quantum and private communication. Most importantly, we establish these capacities under fundamental noise models, including bosonic loss which is the most important for optical communications. Depending on the routing, optimal strategies can efficiently be found by solving the widest path or the maximum flow problem suitably extended to the quantum setting.

Based on https://arxiv.org/abs/1601.00966

 

Implementation of quantum repeater and networks

Kae Nemoto, National Institute of Informatics, Japan

Quantum repeater designs have been categorized in three generations. Though repeater designs in each category could achieve arbitrary distance communication in theory, such systems will require high accuracy in their physical devices unrealistic to the current technology. Small quantum repeater systems are expected to be realized in the near future, and they will not be capable to fully treat errors. We review the properties of the typical designs for each generation, and examine how we implement and scale up such quantum communication systems. Analyzing the performance of the systems, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of quantum repeaters and networks.

 

From theory to practice: What it takes for quantum repeaters to prove useful?

Mohsen Razavi, University of Leeds, England

One measure of usefulness for a new quantum communications system is whether it can outperform existing technologies in certain aspects. In the case of QKD and quantum repeaters, one can ask if we can implement, with today’s technology, a quantum repeater system that provides higher secret key generation rates over a distance region. In this talk, I will go over a series of proposals for implementing the simplest possible repeater structure: a repeater with only one middle node. Furthermore, we only use quantum memories in that middle node, and the two end users are only equipped with BB84-like encoders. This will simplify to some extent certain requirements of building such systems. By considering different structures suitable for different types of memories that can be used in such a setup, I will provide some qualitative and quantitative insight into what possible routes are the most promising in a timeframe of the next 5-10 years. It turns out that for implementing even the simplest repeater structure, with the performance criterion mentioned above, a host of devices, in addition to the quantum memories, need to be working at the edge of, or slightly above, their current state of the art. This would highlight the importance of accounting for quality, in addition to quantity, of employed devices in estimating the cost of quantum repeater networks.

 

Quantum networks of atoms

Christopher Monroe, JQI and U. Maryland, USA

Trapped atomic ions are standards for quantum information science, acting as qubits that have unsurpassed levels of quantum coherence, can be replicated and scaled with the atomic clock accuracy, and allow near-perfect measurement.  Gates between proximal qubits can be mediated by modulating the Coulomb repulsion between ions with control laser beams, allowing the local qubit connectivity graph to be reconfigured and optimally adapted to a given task.  Moreover, connections between nodes of trapped ion crystals can be made with photonic protocols acting between subsets of ions in each collection.  This allows a modular quantum architecture to be established for uses in quantum communication and large-scale quantum computation.

 

An integrated diamond nanophotonics platform for quantum-optical networks

Ruffin Evans, Harvard University, USA

I will present a new platform for scalable quantum nanophotonics based on silicon-vacancy (SiV) color centers coupled to diamond nanodevices. The SiV has the unprecedented combination of long spin coherence times and nearly lifetime-limited optical linewidths while maintaining compatibility with nanofabrication techniques. First, I will discuss recent work on extending the coherence time of the SiV to beyond 10 ms by cooling the system down to below 100 mK. By placing SiV centers inside diamond photonic crystal cavities, we realize a quantum optical switch controlled by a single color center. We control the switch using SiV metastable states and observe switching at the single-photon level. Raman transitions are used to realize a single-photon source with a tunable frequency and bandwidth in a diamond waveguide. By measuring intensity correlations of indistinguishable Raman photons emitted into a single waveguide, we observe quantum interference resulting from the superradiant emission of two entangled SiV centers.

 

Towards a Solid-State Quantum Repeater based on Rare-Earth doped Crystals

Mikael Afzelius, University of Geneva, Switzerland

The ability to generate multimode quantum correlations between photons and excitations in matter is a key resource for quantum repeaters and quantum networks. Solid-state devices are gaining interest as potential quantum nodes, as these open up possibilities for device miniaturization and component integration. A large variety of solid-state systems are currently being investigated, among those single color centers or defects, ensembles of ions and mechanical oscillators. Rare-earth ions in crystals have a rather unique set of properties that makes them suitable as multimode quantum nodes, such as large optical bandwidths combined with long optical and spin coherence times.

 

Quantum repeater: Quis es et unde venis

Gerhard Rempe, Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics

Groundbreaking experiments with single quantum bits of light and matter have shown that it is possible to build elementary quantum networks in which quantum states can either be directly transferred or indirectly teleported between quantum network nodes by means of photons. In order to detect photon loss and implement a success herald, a nondestructive photon-tracking mechanism has been realized. It is intrinsically deterministic and has subsequently been applied to demonstrate an efficient quantum memory for flying photons, a quantum gate between a stationary atom and a flying photon as well as a quantum gate between two flying photons. Most recently, the nondestructive atom-photon interaction mechanism has been used to carve entanglement between two nearby atoms and trigger a fast quantum gate between them. In parallel, the memory time of a network node has been extended by several orders of magnitude to reach record-high values. All these achievements together seem to provide a unique toolbox for the realization of an elementary quantum repeater. The main challenges include the integration of the different capabilities into a common platform, the exploration of practical architectures and the identification of suitable protocols, all with the goal to increase the quantum communication bit rate beyond that of a simple lossy quantum channel.

 

Quantum networking based on ensembles of neutral atoms

Alex Kuzmich, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Qubits encoded into ensembles of neutral atoms trapped in optical lattices can store quantum information for many seconds. Dozens or even hundreds of qubits can be encoded into a single atom trap by use of memory multiplexing. The atomic qubits can be either converted into, or entangled with, photonic qubits. The wavelength of the photonic qubits is determined by the resonance frequencies of the atomic transitions. These typically are in the visible or the near-infrared, however telecom wavelengths become accessible by employing collective cascade emission or wavelength conversion in auxiliary atomic ensembles. Quantum gates between pairs of atomic qubits, or an atomic and a photonic qubit, or a pair of photonic qubits, can be realized by employing transitions to highly excited atomic Rydberg states. All of these elements have been demonstrated in separate experiments. The outstanding challenge is to improve performance metrics and to achieve integration of all these capabilities.

 

From free-space to all-fibered light-matter interfaces: combining nanophotonics and cold atoms as a new route

Julien Laurat, Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, UPMC, Paris, France

In the general context of quantum information networks, my group focuses on the manipulation of light at the single-photon level using large ensembles of cold neutral atoms. In a free-space implementation, we reported for instance the quantum storage of OAM-encoded qubits and a multiple-degree-of-freedom memory for structured light, targeting thereby an enhanced information coding density. Most recently, we also push the overall storage-and-retrieval efficiency close to 70%. These achievements offer now an efficient node for future tests of complex quantum network functionalities. In this talk, I will discuss these multiplexed realizations and then focus on a new route: the coupling of cold atom arrays with 1D nanoscale waveguides. This challenging combination appears as promising alternative to free-space focusing and a strong pathway to build light-matter interfaces thanks to the tight confinement of the light. It enables longer interaction length, large optical depth, and potentially non-linear interactions at very low power level. I will highlight some recent results, including the realization of an all-fibered memory and the heralding of a single collective excitation in this platform. The ability to generate single photons, store them and control their transport in 1D waveguides coupled to atom arrays would allow for novel all-fibered quantum network capabilities and many-body effects emerging from long-range interactions.

 

Ultrafast long-distance quantum communication with static linear optics

Peter van Loock, University of Mainz, Germany

The first and most common approach to (fiber-based) quantum communication across large distances, circumventing the effect of an optical transmission loss exponentially growing with distance, is the quantum repeater. However, the standard quantum repeater based on local quantum memories and two-way classical communication is ‪rather slow, producing fairly low rates and requiring long-lasting memories. An obvious remedy here is to replace quantum error detection (as employed in a standard quantum repeater in the form of entanglement purification) by quantum error correction. Based on existing ideas for such encoded quantum repeaters, we will discuss the possibility of ‪implementing ultrafast long-distance quantum communication with linear optics. For this purpose, we propose ‪a projection measurement onto encoded Bell states ‪with a static network of linear optical elements that enables one to acquire sufficient syndrome information from a transmitted encoded qubit in a non-destructive fashion. By increasing the size of the quantum error correction code, both the linear-optics Bell measurement efficiency and the photon-loss ‪tolerance can be enhanced at the same time. As a result, all-optical quantum communication over large distances with communication rates similar to those of classical communication is, in principle, possible based on local state teleportations using optical sources of encoded Bell states, fixed arrays of beam splitters, and photon detectors. We also consider an extension of our scheme from loss to fault tolerance including error sources beyond transmission losses such as depolarizing effects and detector inefficiencies (losses and dark counts). Other issues to be covered are possible improvements via enhanced linear optical Bell measurements on the level of the physical qubits and the supposedly most demanding part of our scheme, namely the generation of the encoded light states.

Wide area quantum communication in China - from Beijing-Shanghai quantum backbone network to "Mucius" quantum satellite

Cheng-Zhi Peng, University of Science and Technology of China

Recently, China has launched the first quantum science experimental satellite "Mucius" and finished the construction of Beijing-Shanghai quantum backbone network towards a space-earth integrated quantum communication network. In this talk, I will introduce these two big projects and report their recent developments, especially the recent published results of satellite-to-earth quantum entanglement distribution, quantum key distribution, and earth-to-satellite quantum teleportation.

 

Entanglement distribution over global distances

Khabat Heshami, NRC Ottawa, Canada

Entanglement over global distances can enable tests of fundamental physics, probing effects of gravity on quantum phenomena, and monitoring space-time variations of fundamental constants. These are in addition to the practical applications of long-distance entanglement distribution in secure communications and blind or distributed quantum computation. I will discuss entanglement distribution over up to 20,000 kms based on quantum repeaters with satellite links. This requires satellites equipped with sources of entangled photons and ground stations with quantum memories and quantum non-demolition detection. Finally, I will briefly describe an approach to achieve quantum non-demolition detection of photonic qubits.

 

Quantum repeaters based on room temperature atomic ensembles

Anders Sørensen, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

For real life applications of quantum repeaters it will be desirable to have systems at room temperature. Furthermore system should preferably be easy miniaturised and easy to produce to allow for parallel operation. I will discuss how this is achievable with spin coated atomic micro cells. A particular problem for these systems is that the atoms move in and out of the laser beams controlling the interactions. Traditionally experiments have dealt with this issue by having sufficiently short memory times so that atoms do not have time to leave the interaction region. For quantum repeaters where long storage times are required, however, this technique cannot be used. By employing narrow optical filter cavities it is instead possible to operate in the opposite regime of “motional averaging” where the interaction time is long compared to the time it takes the atoms to traverse the atomic cell. I will present the theory behind this motional averaging and how it can be used for quantum repeaters. Furthermore I will discuss the first step towards realising quantum repeaters based on motional averaging.

 

Telecom-band frequency conversion interfaces using nanophotonic resonators

Kartik Srinivasan, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA

Efficient, low-noise spectral translation of a quantum state of light, or quantum frequency conversion, may be an important resource for quantum repeaters and networks. I will describe our development of chip-integrated silicon nitride nanophotonic resonators for connecting near-infrared and visible wavelength sources with the telecommunications band. In a first class of devices, the four-wave-mixing Bragg scattering process is exploited, where the application of two continuous-wave pump fields results in spectral translation of an input signal by a range given by the difference in the pump frequencies. Experiments demonstrating bidirectional conversion between the 980 nm and 1550 nm bands with >60% conversion efficiency will be presented, and application to quantum dot single-photon sources will be discussed. Extensions to other systems, such as the nitrogen vacancy center in diamond, will also be considered. Finally, a second approach for connecting the visible and telecommunications bands, based on entanglement swapping using engineered photon pair sources, will be discussed. 

Scalable ensemble-based repeater architectures for multipartite states

Christine Muschik, University of Innsbruck, Austria

The vision to develop quantum networks entails the realisation of multi-user applications, which requires the generation of long-distance multipartity-entangled states. We are currently witnessing rapid experimental progress in building prototype networks, calling for new design concepts to guide future developments in this fast-moving field. We address this question in a concrete and implementation-oriented manner by proposing a robust and experimentally feasible scheme for distributing three-party entangled states of GHZ type, that can be used for clock synchronisation, and for quantum secret sharing and quantum voting. Our intrinsically two-dimensional approach is based on atomic or solid state ensembles and provides a robust architecture with built-in error filtering mechanisms. While our scheme is inspired by current (one-dimensional) ensemble-based repeater experiments, it does not suffer from the same problems associated with photon losses and finite quantum memory times. Taking realistic error sources and imperfections into account, we provide an efficient design for future experiments with a clear perspective in terms of scalability.

 

Towards a device-independent certification of building blocks of quantum networks

Nicolas Sangouard, Department of Physics, University of Basel, Switzerland

How can one certify the proper functioning of quantum networks? In this talk, we will present a bottom up approach in which the building blocks of quantum networks are certified separately. We will focus on Bell tests as they provide certification techniques that are independent of the actual implementations. We will show first results and on-going investigations on how these Bell tests can be used to detect quantum correlations between hundreds of qubits or to certify the proper functioning of devices that are needed to process quantum information.