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Advanced communications

Quantum Communications

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) quantum communications research focuses on three areas: Sensing, Computing and Networking. These focus areas serve as the foundation for development and innovation across a wide range of technical applications, making NIST’s research essential for growth in numerous sectors. This work contributes to NIST’s Quantum Information Science (QIS) initiative by developing innovative quantum communications components and techniques that enable secure, high-speed data transmission and foster future quantum networks.

Quantum Communications Focus Areas

Quantum Voltage Standards: Establishing reliable and programmable quantum voltage standards which are critical for calibrating electronics from direct current (DC) to radio frequencies (RF). By developing a broadband, integrated quantum-based microwave voltage source, CTL improves RF voltage measurements, benefiting high-speed communications.
Quantum Field Probes Using Rydberg Atoms: Working with Rydberg atoms allows for self-calibrated, International System of Units (SI)-traceable RF electric field measurements. This technology improves RF metrology and has applications in telecommunications, defense, and energy, supporting both performance and safety.

Qubit to Mega-Qubit Quantum Computers: This research focuses on precise RF measurements in cryostats to characterize superconducting quantum circuits and components. By improving characterization methods, NIST researchers aim to exponentially scale quantum computing capabilities.
Scalable Quantum Computing: Integrating Single-Flux-Quantum (SFQ) circuits to control qubits. This work includes testing electronic design automation (EDA) tools to streamline the design flow for scalable superconducting quantum computers.

Quantum Network Testbed: Developing metropolitan-scale quantum networks to enhance secure communications and information transmission over long distances. NIST’s regional testbed supports advancements in entanglement distribution and polarization control, ensuring the scalability of quantum networks.
Quantum Optical Channels for Remote Microwave Entanglement: Innovative research in optical channels and microwave-optical transducers supports remote microwave entanglement, advancing the future of superconducting quantum computing.
Optical Time Transfer for Quantum Networking: By integrating optical clocks and time transfer technologies, researchers are revolutionizing quantum networking, enabling better synchronization over long distances and supporting satellite navigation, dark matter research, and geodesy.

The Research

Projects & Programs

Quantum Communications and Networks

Ongoing

Key Components of Quantum Repeaters and Quantum Network Systems Single Photon Sources: An ideal single photon entangled pair source for a quantum repeater application should satisfy several conditions simultaneously. Since photons must interact efficiently with a quantum memory, the source must emit

A glowing blue cylindrical rod has fibers coming out of either end.

Rydberg Atom-based Quantum RF Field Probes

Ongoing

Calibrated radio frequency (RF) electric field probes and antennas are currently limited by a complex, indirect traceability path and require a complex calibration – which presents a chicken-and-egg dilemma. Probes must be calibrated by placing them in a known electric field, while a precisely known

Quantum Optical Networks

Ongoing

The program's technical research areas are: Architecture research for Quantum Optical Networks and integration with classical networks Management (label, identify, track) and Control Plane (signal and route optical paths) Software Stacks Performance monitoring for end-to-end Quality of Entanglement

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