Long-range quantum communication based on solid-state photon emitters

Quantum communication holds promise for transmitting secure messages via quantum cryptography, as well as for distributing quantum information. However, attenuation in optical fibers fundamentally limits the range of direct quantum communication techniques. This invention enables long distance quantum communication in realistic, lossy photonic channels. By using a repeaters with entanglement purification at each step, one can extend entanglement generation to arbitrary distances without loss of fidelity. Fixed, minimal physical resources suffice to correct arbitrary errors, making our protocol robust to all realistic sources of decoherence. The method is particularly well suited for implementation using recently developed solid-state nano-photonic devices.

U.S. Patent(s) Issued: US8913900B2