On January 22, 2025, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) inaugurated a new fiber optic test facility aimed at enhancing secure communication through quantum key distribution. This facility is pivotal for developing a quantum network that will interlink quantum computers, marking a significant advancement in quantum communication technology.
The facility spans 20 kilometers, connecting specialized laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art ultra-coherent lasers and cryostats. The core of the fiber optic cable is notably thin, measuring only 9 micrometers in diameter, comparable to a fraction of a human hair's thickness.
Oliver Kraft, Vice President for Research at KIT, emphasized the strategic importance of quantum communication, stating, "With the finished test facility, KIT is providing its researchers with important infrastructure for investigating the opportunities offered by quantum physics." This initiative aims to advance research and development in quantum network technology with practical applications in mind.
Professor David Hunger, leading the project at KIT, noted that the facility serves as a platform for enhancing quantum key distribution and integrating it with classical communication systems. The researchers are focused on developing new transmission protocols to improve the efficiency of quantum cryptography, collaborating with KEEQuant, a quantum communication start-up. They are also exploring the use of molecular quantum emitters to generate ultrapure quantum light, which will significantly boost transmission rates.
Additionally, the researchers plan to establish a quantum network that will serve as a foundation for the quantum internet of the future. They will investigate storing quantum information in specialized quantum memories and achieving quantum entanglement among these memories, facilitating the implementation of quantum repeaters for long-distance quantum information transmission.
This project is integral to the Chem4Quant Cluster of Excellence initiative, involving collaboration with Ulm University and the University of Stuttgart to design materials for future quantum technologies. It also plays a vital role in the research on quantum repeaters under the Quantenrepeater.Net project, supported by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the QuantumBW Innovation Campus.