Intracity quantum communication via thermal microwave networks

Abstract

Communication over proven-secure quantum channels is potentially one of the most wide-ranging applications of currently developed quantum technologies. It is generally envisioned that in future quantum networks, separated nodes containing stationary solid-state or atomic qubits are connected via the exchange of optical photons over large distances. In this work we explore an intriguing alternative for quantum communication via all-microwave networks. To make this possible, we describe a general protocol for sending quantum states through thermal channels, even when the number of thermal photons in the channel is much larger than one. The protocol can be implemented with state-of-the-art superconducting circuits and enables the transfer of quantum states over distances of ~100 m via microwave transmission lines cooled to only T=4K. This opens up completely new possibilities for quantum communication within and across buildings, and consequently, for the implementation of intra-city quantum networks based on microwave technology only.

11 pages, 5 figures

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• On-demand microwave generator of shaped single photons
• Microwave-to-optical conversion via four-wave-mixing in a cold ytterbium ensemble
• Radiative cooling of a superconducting resonator
• Millimeter-wave interconnects for microwave-frequency quantum machines
• Quantum transduction with adaptive control
• Experimental preparation of generalized cat states for itinerant microwave photons
• Hybrid Photonic Loss Resilient Entanglement Swapping
• Quantum Computation and Communication in Bosonic Systems