Large-Scale, Quantum Communication Networks Are Within Reach

From the ground, researchers measured laser signals that originated from a satellite and traveled through Earth's gravitational potential and the turbulent atmosphere. (Credit: Earth, Google; satellite, ESO) Veering from the path of their counterparts at other institutions, researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Germany say they've found an easier path toward large-scale, secure communication networks. They demonstrated that it’s possible to distribute quantum information to locations on earth via satellite with only minor modifications to existing technology. Multiple arduous and costly endeavors have focused on developing new technology to achieve this goal, but this study, published Thursday in the journal Optica, finds that existing satellite technologies, taken to the edge of their capabilities, can send information in the quantum regime—something they were not designed to do. They say, that within the next few years, satellites capable of distributing quantum keys may be launched, building the framework for more secure ...