Quantum Memories for Quantum Networks

Résumé

The distribution of entanglement between the nodes of a quantum network will allow new advances e.g. in long distance quantum communication, distributed quantum computing and quantum sensing. The realization of large-scale quantum networks—also known as quantum internet—will require quantum repeaters to enable quantum communication over distances much longer than the fiber attenuation length. The nodes of a quantum repeater are matter systems that should efficiently interact with quantum light, allow entanglement with photons (ideally at telecommunication wavelengths) and serve as a quantum memory allowing long-lived, faithful and multiplexed storage of entangled quantum bits. 

During the first part of the presentation, I will give an introduction to quantum networks, explain the various challenges towards their realization and give an overview of the platforms that have been proposed and demonstrated for the realization of quantum network nodes. In the second part, I will discuss recent experimental progress in the field, focusing mainly on approaches based on ensemble-based quantum memories in rare-earth doped solids.

Hugues de Riedmatten

Hugues de Riedmatten is ICREA professor and head of the Quantum Photonics group at ICFO in Barcelona, Spain. His group's research focuses on building experimental hardware for quantum networks and quantum repeaters, including quantum memories for light, quantum light sources, quantum network nodes and quantum frequency conversion. Hugues obtained his Ph.D. in 2003 from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Between 2004 and 2006, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology. He then came back to Geneva to work as a senior scientist until 2010, when he joined ICFO to start a new research group. He contributed to key milestones in quantum memory and repeater technology, including the first demonstrations of long-distance quantum teleportation, of solid-state quantum memories, of quantum repeater links using cold atoms and solid-state quantum memories and of quantum communication between disparate quantum nodes. He has published more than 110 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He was the recipient of a ERC starting Grant and of a frontier research grant from the US based Moore foundation. He is a member of the executive team of the Quantum Internet Alliance, and is associate editor of the journal Optica.