Exploring the Importance of Quantum Memories for Long-Distance Quantum Communication Networks
The 2023 OFC Conference included a symposium on “Quantum Information and Optical Communication Networks” which discussed the use of quantum memories for longer distance quantum communication networks. Quantum memories are essential for the development of quantum repeaters that can facilitate long-distance quantum communication networks. Researchers from various universities around the world presented their research on creating quantum-based communication networks.[0]
Quantum communication is a vital component in developing practical quantum computing systems that require networking several smaller quantum-computing systems. The transport of quantum entangled particles will be necessary for such practical quantum computing systems. Transporting quantum entangled particles may involve using quantum memories for long-distance communication, similar to the use of repeaters for classical communication. Alternatively, sophisticated machine learning methods and error correction techniques may be used for longer distance communication without quantum repeaters.[0]
Quantum communication is crucial for transporting quantum states in communication networks shared with conventional communication. The use of quantum repeaters using quantum memories or other techniques to enhance longer distance quantum entangled particle data transmissions will be crucial for the practical application of quantum computing.
Quantum memories are also essential for private (blind) quantum computation and for new developments in quantum communications, metrology, and timekeeping. The long entanglement storage durations achieved in experiments will lead to an order-of-magnitude improvement in the precision of frequency comparison between distant clocks.[1] Quantum memories will pave the way for creating scalable quantum computing systems by using small modules that can process quantum information and interconnect them with other modules, circumventing the need for large and complex ion traps.
The development of quantum computers requires the creation of qubits. Qubits are the basic building blocks of a quantum computer. The use of individual quantum computational nodes loaded with a given number of processing qubits (i.e., calcium) and a network qubit (i.e., strontium) can create quantum links between distant modules. This promising quantum memory could pave the way towards the creation of scalable quantum computing systems.
In conclusion, the symposium on “Quantum Information and Optical Communication Networks” discussed the use of quantum memories for longer distance quantum communication networks. Quantum memories are essential for developing quantum repeaters that can facilitate long-distance quantum communication networks. The development of quantum computers requires the creation of qubits, which can be loaded into individual quantum computational nodes and linked with other modules using a network qubit. The use of quantum repeaters using quantum memories or other techniques will be crucial for the practical application of quantum computing in the future.
0. “What Is Quantum Memory And What Is It Good For?” Forbes, 21 Mar. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2023/03/21/what-is-quantum-memory-and-what-is-it-good-for/
1. “A robust quantum memory that stores information in a trapped-ion quantum network” Phys.org, 27 Mar. 2023, https://phys.org/news/2023-03-robust-quantum-memory-trapped-ion-network.html
