Quantum communication through next-generation telecommunication optical fibers

Project funded by Swedish Research Council (Project grant), grant 2017-04470_VR. Participating organisations named by the source: Linköping University. Funded amount: SEK 3,200,000, as stated by the source. Runs 2018-01-01 to 2021-12-31. Keywords: Naturvetenskap, Natural Sciences, Fysik, Physical Sciences, Atom- och molekylfysik och optik, Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics. Source: OpenAIRE Graph, from the funder's project data (collected by OpenAIRE on 2025-12-04); national funding data, not CORDIS. Abstract given by the source: Quantum communication has the capability to provide communication with absolute security.The most suitable systems for such a task are the different degrees-of-freedom (DOF) of single-photons, such as the state of polarization or the phase. One important DOF that can allow more information to be encoded on a single quantum system is the transverse spatial profile of the single-photon, as it can support high-dimensional encoding (this system is called a qudit). These systems are required for many different quantum communication protocols. Unfortunately spatial photonic qudits cannot be transmitted through standard optical fibers. Here we propose the use of novel optical fibers designed by the telecom industry for spatial division multiplexing to transport spatial photonic qudits and allow a number of different quantum communication schemes. We shall use a few-mode fiber to create and propagate spatial qudits for the first time, and then increase the dimensionality of the system through a proof-of-principle experiment encoding a qudit across 2 modes on 2 few-mode cores in a multi-core fiber, thus generating 4-dimensional qudits (ququarts) on only two cores. We expect these fibers to be capable of supporting long-distance propagation for photonic spatial qudits, based on preliminary results by the author of this proposal. This project has important consequences for the deployment and integration of quantum communication systems with the optical networks of the future.

Original source.

Source: OpenAIRE Graph: projects of national funders, OpenAIRE, from the project data of Swedish Research Council. Retrieved 2026-10-22. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (OpenAIRE Graph). Selected metadata, adapted presentation; the publisher's record is authoritative. No endorsement by the source is implied. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

AI-assisted summary: The project, funded by the Swedish Research Council with SEK 3,200,000, focuses on quantum communication through advanced optical fibers from 2018 to 2021. It involves Linköping University and explores the use of spatial photonic qudits for secure communication. Suggested technology pillar: communication. Generated by AI from the public source text; it may contain errors and the original source is authoritative.