“Towards Low SWaP Mobile Platforms for Quantum Communication Systems”
Abstract: Quantum networking applications are growing rapidly (e.g., distributed blind computing, entanglement purification, quantum sensors, and quantum key distribution (QKD)). While we race to accommodate all these applications on existing quantum networks, it is also important to continue expanding these networks to include diverse multinodal channels to achieve a global secure quantum network. Many fiber-based and free-space fixed nodes exist, as well as several large mobile high-altitude nodes (e.g., satellites, planes, weather balloons). However, the niche for rapidly deployable low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) nodes has not yet seen much development. We aim to fill this niche by engineering low-SWaP, rapidly deployable mobile platforms that support quantum key distribution (QKD) and entanglement distribution. We have previously demonstrated the first finite-key secured drone and vehicle QKD links and are now working towards establishing a similar link capable of distributing entanglement at rates of up to 1.5 kbit/s between both drone and vehicle nodes. I will present the results of our QKD node and our progress towards entanglement distribution.
Bio: Samantha Isaac is a seventh-year physics graduate student working for Paul G. Kwiat, researching quantum optical communication systems and exploring the limits of human vision.