Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in developing a quantum internet by creating an exceptionally bright light source that can generate quantum-entangled photons. This technology has the potential to securely transmit data at high speeds over vast distances.
The key challenge in building a quantum internet is that the strength of these photons can fade as they travel, making it difficult to maintain their “quantum coherence.” However, scientists have now developed a new type of quantum signal source using existing technologies that achieves extremely high brightness.
This breakthrough was achieved by combining a photon dot emitter with a quantum resonator to create a powerful new quantum signal. The device uses a circular Bragg resonator and a piezoelectric actuator to fine-tune the emitted photons for maximum polarized entanglement.
The resulting photon pairs had a high entanglement fidelity and extraction efficiency, making them suitable for use in quantum communications. This is a significant step forward in developing practical quantum technologies, demonstrating how they can be combined together to create a more powerful and viable light source.
While this breakthrough brings us closer to realizing a quantum internet, it’s still early days, and many challenges remain. The use of toxic raw materials, including arsenic, in the current technology is a major concern. Therefore, identifying alternative materials that are safer and more sustainable will be crucial for future development.
The next stage in the development process will involve integrating a diode-like structure onto the piezoelectric actuator to generate an electric field across the quantum dots, which will help counteract decoherence and boost entanglement. While there is still much work to be done, this breakthrough represents a significant step forward in the quest for a secure and efficient quantum internet.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/technology/communications/unbreakable-quantum-communication-closer-to-reality-thanks-to-new-exceptionally-bright-photons