Recent advances on integrated quantum communications

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent progress in integrated quantum communication technologies, highlighting device development, system integration, and challenges, especially in quantum key distribution, with future prospects for scalable quantum networks.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of integrated quantum communication components, platforms, and challenges, emphasizing recent advancements and future directions in the field.

Findings

Integrated photonic devices enable scalable quantum communication.

Quantum key distribution on chip faces specific technical challenges.

Promising future developments in integrated quantum networks.

Abstract

In recent years, the use of integrated technologies for applications in the field of quantum information processing and communications has made great progress. The resulting devices feature valuable characteristics such as scalability, reproducibility, low cost and interconnectivity, and have the potential to revolutionize our computation and communication practices in the future, much in the way that electronic integrated circuits have drastically transformed our information processing capacities since the last century. Among the multiple applications of integrated quantum technologies, this review will focus on typical components of quantum communication systems and on overall integrated system operation characteristics. We are interested in particular in the use of photonic integration platforms for developing devices necessary in quantum communications, including sources, detectors and both passive and active optical elements. We also illustrate the challenges associated with performing quantum communications on chip, by using the case study of quantum key distribution - the most advanced application of quantum information science. We conclude with promising perspectives in this field.