Development of New Quantum Memories for Global Networks
The University of Strathclyde is heading a new effort to build quantum memories capable of sustaining long-distance communication networks. This project, known as AL FreSQO, represents a three-year initiative backed by €2 million in European Union funding. The goal involves creating systems that store quantum information through the use of cold atoms.
Quantum information remains fragile. It cannot be copied or amplified like traditional digital signals. If a signal travels too far, it vanishes. By using quantum memory as a buffer, the research team aims to distribute entanglement across greater spans than currently possible. This process involves breaking long transmission links into shorter segments and reconnecting them through entanglement swapping. The architecture is designed to support the eventual creation of a functional quantum internet.
Technical Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Existing quantum memory platforms often require bulky, energy-intensive cryogenic cooling systems to operate. The AL FreSQO team intends to move away from these constraints. Their methodology focuses on free-space optical links, which function where underground fiber networks remain impractical or impossible to install.
Another critical component of the work involves wavelength conversion. Because different systems operate on varying frequencies, the researchers are building hardware that converts light between telecommunications standards and the specific wavelengths required by quantum hardware. This hardware flexibility is essential for creating a hybrid infrastructure that bridges free-space and fiber connections.
Industry Impact and Strategic Goals
Practical applications for this technology span multiple sectors. Because the team focuses on mobile or non-tethered transmission, industries such as aviation, space, shipping, and rail stand to benefit. These fields require secure communications and precise clock synchronization but lack access to traditional physical infrastructure.
Professor Daniel Oi from the Department of Physics at Strathclyde serves as the lead coordinator. He manages an international team including the Universities of Southampton and Padova, Humboldt University of Berlin, Sabancı University, and the spinout firm ThinkQuantum. Dr. Aidan Arnold, a reader in physics at Strathclyde, will lead specific experiments in quantum non-demolition to detect photons without destroying the data they carry.
This initiative aligns with the Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Research Hub. It also supports the UK National Quantum Strategy, which targets the delivery of scalable quantum networks by 2035. The QuantERA programme, supported by the European Commission, provides the financial framework for this work. Beyond the technical outcomes, the project functions as a training ground for a new generation of scientists entering the quantum physics workforce.