Quantum Research at CTL

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) quantum communications research focuses on three areas: Sensing, Computing and Networking. These focus areas serve as the foundation for development and innovation across a wide range of technical applications, making NIST’s research essential for growth in numerous sectors. 

As the nation’s measurement science agency, NIST plays a pivotal role in redefining many SI quantities to tie them to fundamental constants. This quantum redefinition of SI quantities promises unprecedented precision and accuracy, leading to more refined standards and guidelines. Specifically, CTL is pioneering research with Rydberg atoms, which are highly sensitive to electric fields and can detect even the faintest signals. This work, along with other Rydberg atom-based sensing applications, has the potential to revolutionize various fields including communications, materials analysis, and fundamental physics research.  The Quantum Voltage Project uses superconducting circuits that leverage a macroscopic quantum phenomenon to build ultra-precise DC, AC, and RF waveforms. These systems are disseminated through the NIST Standard Reference Instrument (SRI) program and are used by nearly every national metrology institute as their primary standard for voltage. 

CTL is focusing on advancing superconducting quantum computers through precision measurement and control. Tools and techniques are being developed to improve qubit readout, control operations, and error correction. CTL also houses the Flux Quantum Electronics Project, which focuses on developing cryogenic superconducting circuits based on Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) technology, and the Mega-Qubit Innovations in Measurement Science program that tackles the challenge of precisely measuring and controlling the behavior of superconducting circuits that can lead to scalable quantum computing. These projects will lead to significant advancements in quantum computing, enabling the development of larger, more powerful, and more reliable quantum computers. 

CTL’s research is key in the quantum communications ecosystem including establishing first demonstrations of quantum networking and advancing quantum computing. The research focuses on developing the fundamental building blocks for quantum networks - like quantum channels, transducers between the microwave and optical domains, routing protocols, and entanglement resources - essential for secure communication and quantum computing applications. This includes investigating and validating technologies for creating, transmitting, and measuring qubits, the basic units of quantum information. 

Another of CTL's key initiatives is the research on the Washington Metropolitan Quantum Network Research Consortium (DC-QNet) testbed which includes the management and operation of quantum networks through the Multiverse Platform. To ensure that quantum networks provide reliable communication services, a reference architecture and suite of protocols must be developed.  The fragile nature of quantum states and the need for precise coordination of processes makes quantum routing significantly more difficult than its classical counterpart. CTL tackles these challenges by developing new algorithms and heuristics, simulation frameworks, and evaluation methods to enable efficient and rapid decision-making in the quantum networks.

DC-QNet provides a real-world testing environment that will allow researchers to evaluate the performance and robustness of quantum divides and systems, leading to the development of best practices and standardized protocols for quantum networks.

As part of advancing quantum networks, researchers at CTL are developing high-quality photonic entangled-pair sources capable of enabling entanglement swapping between network nodes, thereby extending communication distances. These sources are also utilized to generate squeezed light, which plays a crucial role in quantum network metrology by enabling high-precision loss estimation. Additionally, quantum measurement-enabled classical communication protocols are being designed to ensure the seamless coexistence of classical and quantum signals within the same channel. CTL researchers have achieved quantum-enhanced phase estimation and stabilization using faint light over record-breaking metropolitan link distances. To support these quantum measurements, algorithms have been developed to advance data acquisition and electronics, significantly enhancing the performance and scalability of the system.

As CTL pushes forward with these focus areas, coordinating with other government agencies is key. The national effort to advance quantum communications helps NIST lay the groundwork for future technologies which will revolutionize fields such as cybersecurity, medicine, and materials science.

For more information on CTL research projects, please visit: https://www.nist.gov/ctl