Quantum repeaters: From quantum networks to the quantum internet

Koji Azuma, Sophia E. Economou, David Elkouss, Paul Hilaire, Liang Jiang, Hoi-Kwong Lo, and Ilan Tzitrin

Rev. Mod. Phys. 95, 045006 – Published 20 December 2023

Abstract

A quantum internet is the holy grail of quantum information processing, enabling the deployment of a broad range of quantum technologies and protocols on a global scale. However, numerous challenges must be addressed before the quantum internet can become a reality. Perhaps the most crucial of these is the realization of a quantum repeater, an essential component in the long-distance transmission of quantum information. As the analog of a classical repeater, extender, or booster, the quantum repeater works to overcome loss and noise in the quantum channels constituting a quantum network. Here the conceptual frameworks and architectures for quantum repeaters, as well as the experimental progress toward their realization, are reviewed. Various near-term proposals to overcome the limits to the communication rates set by point-to-point quantum communication are also discussed. Finally, the manner in which quantum repeaters fit within the broader challenge of designing and implementing a quantum internet is overviewed.

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Received 20 October 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.95.045006

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum communication Quantum memories Quantum networks Quantum repeaters

Internet

Quantum Information, Science & Technology

Authors & Affiliations

Koji Azuma^*

NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato-Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan and NTT Research Center for Theoretical Quantum Information, NTT Corporation, 3-1 Morinosato-Wakamiya, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0198, Japan

Sophia E. Economou^†

Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA

David Elkouss^‡

QuTech, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands and Networked Quantum Devices Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan

Paul Hilaire^§

Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA and Quandela SAS, 10 Boulevard Thomas Gobert, 91120 Palaiseau, France

Liang Jiang^∥

Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA

Hoi-Kwong Lo^¶

Quantum Bridge Technologies, Inc., 100 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L5, Canada, Department of Physics, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, and Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, Department of Physics and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada

Ilan Tzitrin^**

Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

^*koji.azuma@ntt.com
^†economou@vt.edu
^‡david.elkouss@oist.jp
^§paul.hilaire@quandela.com
^∥liang.jiang@uchicago.edu
^¶hklo@ece.utoronto.ca
^**itzitrin@physics.utoronto.ca

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Vol. 95, Iss. 4 — October - December 2023

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