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How to maximise quantum’s potential with ultra low loss fibre optic connectors


A look at how engineers and scientists in academic research and industrial applications can best optimise the potential of emerging opportunities such as quantum by decreasing connection losses in single-mode fibre connectors


I


n today’s fast-paced world, the need for higher data rates and increased capacity


is only growing. The need for digital technologies that fulfil functions such as data analytics, cloud computing, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and more are, in turn, driving demand for higher-capacity networks to support these digital initiatives. Likewise, the growth of


data centres has risen, with the requirement to process large quantities of data and information. Communications networks – whether for telecoms, datacoms, aerospace and defence or for industrial automation therefore have had to become more sophisticated in order to meet the massive demand levelled at them, and the optics involved are crucial to their success. Evaluating the landscape


today, quantum photonics has emerged with the potential to transform a number of applications, including optical communications, encryption, computing, sensing, metrology, healthcare and life sciences, aerospace and defence... the list really does goes on.


30 Electro Optics March 2024


The innovation challenge: overcoming connection losses Emerging areas of innovation do not come without their challenges, and selecting the right optical components is the best way to overcome these. Victor Coggi, Technical Director at Diamond SA explains: “One of the key challenges in quantum, for example, is state preservation. Quantum information is extremely responsive and so can be easily disrupted by external factors such as loss, noise, and decoherence. Losses in fibre optic connections can affect the quality of quantum states, leading to errors in quantum communication and computation.” What’s more, fibre optic connections can experience losses due to absorption, scattering, and mode coupling. Says Coggi: “In applications, where single photons carry information, even small losses could significantly degrade the signal-to-noise ratio and limit the distance over which information can be reliably transmitted.” Fibre optic connections can also introduce decoherence to


quantum systems via photon absorption, scattering, or phase noise. This can limit the coherence time and fidelity of quantum states. Then there are the nonlinear effects such as self-phase modulation, cross-phase modulation, and four-wave mixing, which can distort quantum signals and introduce errors in quantum communication and computation. Other considerations


for physicists, engineers, researchers, architects and R&D specialists include the connection’s compatibility with quantum repeaters, technological limitation of some current fibre optic technologies that may not be optimised for quantum, and security concerns posed by losses in fibre optic connections. Coggi explains: “This can pose security risks in quantum communication systems, particularly for quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols. Higher losses increase the vulnerability of QKD systems to eavesdropping attacks and reduce the achievable key rates, compromising the security of quantum cryptographic protocols.”


“Addressing connection


losses in quantum or any data transmission requires the development of advanced techniques for minimising losses in the transmission medium, optimising quantum repeater architectures, implementing error-correction schemes, and improving the efficiency of quantum communication protocols,” he says. “Overcoming these challenges is essential for realising the full potential of quantum communication for secure and efficient data transmission.”


Solving the innovation challenge: ultra-low loss (ULL) connectors In recent years, ultra-low loss (ULL) connectors have emerged as a solution, thanks to their benefits in minimising signal degradation by reducing losses during transmission, preserving the fidelity and reliability of quantum states. By reducing losses, ULL connectors can also enable quantum signals to travel longer distances, facilitating the establishment of quantum communication networks, and they offer enhanced security benefits, as Coggi explains:


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