Toward Universal Quantum Optimal Photonic Processing Using Quantum Computation

An efficient general encoding scheme for transferring photonic quantum states to physical quantum memories would provide a physical realization of quantum optimal receiver designs, whose performance can achieve orders of magnitude improvement over current communications and sensing technologies. The objective of this proposal is to develop such an encoding scheme through investigating novel light-matter Hamiltonians, like the Jaynes-Cumming Hamiltonian, the non-Gaussian Kerr-like gate Hamiltonian, among others. This investigation will be followed by in depth physical modeling of the performance when such schemes are applied to quantum optimal receiver designs, and optimization based on results. Many of the quantum optimal receiver designs have been developed by NASA for application to deep space quantum communications in the low-photon number regime. Their physical realization would provide access to highly efficient laser communications systems for future NASA missions. The realization of this photonic quantum state encoding receiver would also prove highly valuable for entanglement enhanced long baseline astronomy, as well as sensitive earth and planetary science observations, maximizing the ability to extract available information from incoming light. Outside of NASA, this technology also has many cross-over possibilities, as quantum efficient sensing and communication would prove greatly useful to humanity.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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