SBIR-STTR Award

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will develop integrated optical frequency shifters to enable Quantum-memory Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (QWDM). Our approach will enable the connection of multiple quantum memory registers across a free-space or fiber optical channel, increasing the bandwidth of near-term quantum networks by 10–100×. As most optical quantum memories operate at a single wavelength we cannot readily apply wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) techniques to increase the bandwidth of a quantum link. To overcome this challenge, we propose to utilize a high-efficiency frequency shifters at the transmitter to shift each quantum register within a memory unit onto a separate wavelength channel that we can combine using standard WDM techniques. After transmitting the multiplexed signal over a free-space or fiber link, a complimentary device at the receiver will de-multiplex the photons and a second set of frequency shifters will shift the wavelengths back to original native frequency of the quantum memory’s register. Within Phase I, we will design and demonstrate a compact on-chip, high-efficiency frequency shifter operating at a native quantum memory wavelength using an approach that can be readily adapted to any existing quantum memory configuration at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. These results, in conjunction with an architecture-design that can efficiently shift and route multiple photons to different registers within a quantum memory, will pave the way for the creation of a highly scalable quantum networks using QWDM. Anticipated

Benefits:
The development of quantum communications and networks are a key technology to enable secure communication, sensor arrays, and quantum computer networks. Our proposed technology will enable wavelength-division multiplexing techniques to greatly increase the bandwidth of any free-space or fiber link that interfaces quantum memories and heterogeneous single- and entangled-photon sources. Future quantum networks will require quantum memories (QM) that are linked by photons transmitted over physical channels. As most QMs utilize a fixed optical frequency, QWDM are a general-purpose component to scale bandwidth without introducing additional physical channels. Such frequency conversion methods are applicable to photons from QMs, as well as the sources of the photons themselves.

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will develop integrated optical frequency shifters to enable Quantum-memory Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (QWDM). Our approach will enable the connection of multiple quantum memory registers across a free-space or fiber optical channel, increasing the bandwidth of near-term quantum networks by 10–100x. As most optical quantum memories operate at a single wavelength we cannot readily apply wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) techniques to increase the bandwidth of a quantum link. To overcome this challenge, we utilize high-efficiency frequency shifters at the transmitter to shift each quantum register within a memory unit onto a separate wavelength channel that we can combine using standard WDM techniques. After transmitting the multiplexed signal over a free-space or fiber link, a complimentary device at the receiver will de-multiplex the photons and a second set of frequency shifters will shift the wavelengths back to original native frequency of the quantum memory’s register. These devices will pave the way for the creation of a highly scalable quantum networks using QWDM. Anticipated

Benefits:
The development of quantum communications and networks are a key technology to enable secure communication, sensor arrays, and quantum computer networks. Our proposed technology will enable wavelength-division multiplexing techniques to greatly increase the bandwidth of NASA’s free-space or fiber quantum links, such as those interfacing quantum memories as well as heterogeneous single- and entangled-photon sources. Future quantum networks will require quantum memories (QM) that are linked by photons transmitted over physical channels. As most QMs utilize a fixed optical frequency, QWDM are a general-purpose component to scale bandwidth without introducing additional physical channels. Such frequency conversion methods are applicable to photons from QMs, as well as the sources of the photons themselves.