A quantum network is a type of communication network that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to transfer information securely between different nodes. In a quantum network, quantum bits, or qubits, are used to transmit information, as opposed to the classical bits used in conventional networks. Owing to the principles of quantum mechanics, any attempt to intercept or eavesdrop on a quantum communication will cause the quantum state to change, alerting the sender and receiver that their communication has been compromised. In addition, quantum networks can enable secure communication and faster computation by taking advantage of quantum entanglement. Entanglement allows two qubits to be connected in such a way that their states are correlated, regardless of the distance between them. There are several challenges to implementing a practical quantum network, including the difficulty of building, and maintaining qubits, the need for specialized infrastructure, and the susceptibility of qubits to environmental noise.
As technologies advance, researchers across the globe continue to work on developing quantum networks for applications in fields such as cryptography, telecommunications, and distributed computing. Photonic qubit states are far easier to generate and manipulate. Therefore, with the successful development of efficient photonic entangled sources and single-photon detectors, local area quantum networks are realizable in near future. Yet there remain several challenges to their implementation. Mitigating losses across the fiber, synchronizing each node at the Pico-second scale, and developing the network control plane to communicate across multiple quantum devices, etc., are a few of the most significant challenges ahead.
This Research Topic aims to collect representative works from experts in the field, with the aim of faciltating the development of quantum devices for quantum networks. As an emerging field, we would welcome work on theoretical principles and existing and new quantum devices that can support the quantum network. Participating in the Research Topic, either as authors or readers, also facilitates establishing a platform for researchers to network, and share their knowledge. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Photonics entangled sources
- Single photon sources
- Single photon detectors
- Indistinguishable single-photon sources and entanglement swapping
- Distribution and remote characterization of entangled states over fiber
- Free space entanglement distribution and characterization
- Quantum memories and network application
- Synchronization techniques for quantum networking
- Optical fiber characterization and stabilization for quantum network
- Co-existence of classical and quantum channels
- Quantum network control plane
Keywords:
Quantum communication, Quantum entanglement, Quantum cryptography, Quantum computing, Telecommunication, Quantum networks, Quantum devices
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
A quantum network is a type of communication network that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to transfer information securely between different nodes. In a quantum network, quantum bits, or qubits, are used to transmit information, as opposed to the classical bits used in conventional networks. Owing to the principles of quantum mechanics, any attempt to intercept or eavesdrop on a quantum communication will cause the quantum state to change, alerting the sender and receiver that their communication has been compromised. In addition, quantum networks can enable secure communication and faster computation by taking advantage of quantum entanglement. Entanglement allows two qubits to be connected in such a way that their states are correlated, regardless of the distance between them. There are several challenges to implementing a practical quantum network, including the difficulty of building, and maintaining qubits, the need for specialized infrastructure, and the susceptibility of qubits to environmental noise.
As technologies advance, researchers across the globe continue to work on developing quantum networks for applications in fields such as cryptography, telecommunications, and distributed computing. Photonic qubit states are far easier to generate and manipulate. Therefore, with the successful development of efficient photonic entangled sources and single-photon detectors, local area quantum networks are realizable in near future. Yet there remain several challenges to their implementation. Mitigating losses across the fiber, synchronizing each node at the Pico-second scale, and developing the network control plane to communicate across multiple quantum devices, etc., are a few of the most significant challenges ahead.
This Research Topic aims to collect representative works from experts in the field, with the aim of faciltating the development of quantum devices for quantum networks. As an emerging field, we would welcome work on theoretical principles and existing and new quantum devices that can support the quantum network. Participating in the Research Topic, either as authors or readers, also facilitates establishing a platform for researchers to network, and share their knowledge. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Photonics entangled sources
- Single photon sources
- Single photon detectors
- Indistinguishable single-photon sources and entanglement swapping
- Distribution and remote characterization of entangled states over fiber
- Free space entanglement distribution and characterization
- Quantum memories and network application
- Synchronization techniques for quantum networking
- Optical fiber characterization and stabilization for quantum network
- Co-existence of classical and quantum channels
- Quantum network control plane
Keywords:
Quantum communication, Quantum entanglement, Quantum cryptography, Quantum computing, Telecommunication, Quantum networks, Quantum devices
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.