Researchers Develop Quantum Memories for Long-Distance Networks

Insider Brief

• The University of Strathclyde is leading a three-year, €2 million EU-funded project to develop quantum memories for long-distance quantum networks.
• The AL FreSQO project will investigate cold-atom quantum memories, free-space optical links and wavelength conversion to support quantum communication over longer distances.
• The technology could support quantum networking applications in space, aviation, shipping and rail, as well as secure communications, clock synchronization and sensing networks.

Press release – An international team of researchers is developing technology to enable long-range quantum networks.

The University of Strathclyde is leading AL FreSQO (Atom-Light Free-Space Quantum Optics networking), a three-year, €2 million project funded by the European Union which will develop quantum ‘memories’ – systems to store quantum information – for communication networks based on cold atoms.

Quantum memories can be used in repeater devices that buffer data over long distance links, helping to mitigate signal loss through the distribution of entanglement. 

Quantum entanglement, which allows secure communications and enables more efficient sensing and computation, is a fundamental resource for quantum information technologies.