Scaling Quantum Networks by Multi-dimensional Multiplexing

Research Project, 2022 – 2025

Quantum networks have incomparable advantages over classical networks in terms of communication security and computation power, where two representative techniques are quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum computing. Due to the insufficient generation and distribution of the basic element of quantum resources, i.e., quantum bit and entanglement, quantum networks suffer from limited scalability. The purpose of this project is to enable scalable generation and efficient utlization of the quantum resources, supporting both QKD and distributed quantum computing leveraging optical fibre infrastructure. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and spatial division multiplexing (SDM) are important enablers for the high-speed optical communication networks. Encouraged by such progress, we will investigate the roles of WDM and SDM in scaling QKD networks, facilitating distributed quantum computing, as well as enabling efficient co-allocation of quantum networks with conventional optical communication networks. Specifically, we will 1) derive theoretical models for the quantum communication protocols to support QKD and distributed quantum computing in WDM and SDM based fibre infrastructure; 2) characterize the interference on quantum channels resulted from classical communication channels co-existed in WDM and SDM systems; 3) design WDM and SDM network architectures and optimize the resource allocation for quantum networks.