Researchers at the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology have recently linked their campuses using an experimental quantum communications network built with two optical fibers. In a new paper published in Optica Quantum, the team introduces the Rochester Quantum Network (RoQNET), which transmits information using single photons over approximately 11 miles of fiber-optic cable at room temperature and optical wavelengths.
Quantum communications networks could greatly enhance the security of transmitted information by making it impossible to copy or intercept messages without detection. These systems rely on quantum bits, or qubits, which can be made from atoms, superconductors, or even imperfections in materials like diamond. Among these, photons—individual light particles—are the most suitable qubit for long-distance quantum communication.
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