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RESEARCH
ANALYSIS
TRENDS
Quantum leap for photon entanglement
could revolutionize secure communications
A breakthrough in the development of quantum- to use in applications such as secure satellite-to-ground
enhanced optical systems could pave the way for and satellite-to-satellite communications.
advances in encryption, communication and
measurement, scientists say. The Glasgow-led team’s new method of generating
entangled photons further into the infrared at two
In a new paper published in the journal Science micrometers wavelength could help overcome these
Advances, a group of researchers, led by Matteo Clerici problems for the first time.
at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of
Engineering and colleagues from the UK, Japan and Dr Matteo Clerici, Senior Lecturer at the University of
Germany, demonstrates a new method of generating Glasgow, said: “What we have been able to do for the
and detecting quantum-entangled photons at a first time is carve out a band in the electromagnetic
wavelength of 2.1 micrometers. spectrum where the entangled particles we produce are
less likely to be affected by background solar radiation
The unique, non-classical properties of entangled when they’re transmitted across free space.
photons are used in applications including quantum key
distribution, which makes uncrackable communications “There is what we call a ‘transparency window’ in the
between two parties possible. atmosphere where there aren’t many gases which can
absorb light at a wavelength of two micrometers. Also,
Methods of entangling photons at shorter wavelengths the sunlight is much less overwhelming in this region –
of between 700 and 1550 nanometers are already well- it’s one-third the brightness that it has at standard
established. However, those wavelengths are telecommunication wavelengths around 1550 nm, for
vulnerable to interference from the sun’s light when example.
they are transmitted over open air, making them difficult
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