quantum communication

UCLA has received $75 million in grants from the National Science Foundation to support quantum technology research. The funding, reported by the Daily Bruin, will advance the university's work in quantum science, a field seen as key to future computing, communications and sensing capabilities. The award positions UCLA among the leading US institutions in quantum research.

Researchers have reported the first operation of a quantum computer in space, a milestone that could pave the way for orbital quantum computing and secure space-based quantum communications. Running quantum hardware outside Earth's atmosphere has long been a goal, since space offers conditions for linking quantum systems across vast distances. The achievement is drawing attention across the physics and space communities, with observers calling it an early but significant step toward practical quantum networks beyond Earth.

Researchers report a quantum memory that has stored single photons for a record duration, an advance described as a major step toward building a quantum internet. Such memories are needed to hold fragile quantum states long enough to link distant devices into secure communication networks. The announcement is drawing attention for suggesting quantum networking technology is moving closer to practical reality.

A quantum communication link has been shown operating over fiber optic cable already carrying 400G Ethernet and 5G traffic, demonstrating that quantum networking can coexist with conventional high-capacity telecommunications on deployed infrastructure rather than requiring dedicated lines. This points to a cheaper path for integrating quantum-secure communications into existing networks.