University of Rochester and RIT Launch Experimental Quantum Communications Network

University of Rochester and RIT Launch Experimental Quantum Communications Network
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 07, 2025

Researchers at the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) have successfully established an experimental quantum communications network, connecting their campuses using two optical fibers. The newly developed Rochester Quantum Network (RoQNET) spans approximately 11 miles and transmits information through single photons at room temperature along fiber-optic lines. This groundbreaking work is detailed in a recent paper published in Optica Quantum.

Quantum communication relies on quantum bits, or qubits, which can be formed from atoms, superconductors, and defects in materials like diamond. However, photons - individual particles of light - are considered the most suitable qubit type for long-distance communication due to their ability to travel vast distances along existing fiber-optic telecommunications lines. This characteristic makes photons particularly promising for practical quantum networks.

The RoQNET project aims to create secure communication networks that are resilient to interception, leveraging integrated quantum photonic chips for quantum light generation and solid-state quantum memory nodes. This approach differentiates RoQNET from other experimental quantum networks, which often rely on more cumbersome and costly superconducting-nanowire-single-photon-detectors (SNSPDs).

"This is an exciting step toward creating quantum networks that will protect communications and enable new approaches to distributed computing and imaging," said Nickolas Vamivakas, the Marie C. Wilson and Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Optical Physics, who led the University of Rochester's efforts. "While other groups have developed experimental quantum networks, RoQNET is unique in its use of integrated quantum photonic chips for quantum light generation and solid-state based quantum memory nodes."

The collaborative effort between the University of Rochester and RIT combines expertise in optics, quantum information, and photonics, aiming to simplify the integration of quantum networks into existing telecommunications infrastructure. Future plans include expanding RoQNET to connect with other research facilities across New York State, including Brookhaven National Lab, Stony Brook University, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and New York University.

"Photons move at the speed of light and their wide range of wavelengths enable communication with different types of qubits," added Stefan Preble, professor in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering at RIT. "Our focus is on distributed quantum entanglement, and RoQNET is a test bed for doing that."

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