22 November 2017
Our paper titled “Photonic quantum state transfer between a cold atomic gas and a crystal” has been published in Nature.
From right to left: Dr. Margherita Mazzera, Dr. Georg Heinze, Nicolas Maring, Prof. Hugues de Riedmatten, Dr. Kutlu Kutluer, and Pau Farrera. Credit: ICFO
ICFO researchers led by ICREA Prof. Hugues de Riedmatten have achieved an elementary “hybrid” quantum network link and demonstrated for the first time photonic quantum communication between two very distinct quantum nodes placed in different laboratories, using a single photon as information carrier.
The key elements of a Quantum Information Network are quantum nodes, that store and process the information, made up of matter systems like cold atomic gases or doped solids, among others, and communicating particles, mainly photons. While photons seem to be perfect information carriers, there is still uncertainty as to which matter system could be used as network node, as each system provides different functionalities. Therefore, the implementation of a hybrid network has been proposed, searching to combine the best capabilities of different material systems.