Optical Networks for Controlling Quantum Communication Systems

HRL Laboratories Engineering/Physics, 2014-15

Liaison(s): Dr. Thaddeus Ladd ’98, Dr. Danny Kim, Dr. Matthew Rakher, Dr. Nathan Jones
Advisor(s): Theresa Lynn, Qimin Yang
Students(s): Alexander Kendrick (TL-S), Luke St. Marie (TL-F), Paul Jerger, Fernando Ortega (POM), Kunal Menda (S), Nithya Menon (F)

One challenge in developing quantum communication technology is the rapid decoherence of stored quantum information. When information is stored in the state of a quantum dot, nanosecond- to microsecond-scale sequences of ultrafast laser pulses can theoretically preserve the state long enough for practical use. The objective of this project is to design, model, and evaluate optical networks to create these precisely timed pulse sequences. Using custom modeling tools, the team designed and simulated a network that should significantly reduce quantum-dot decoherence.