Multimode ion-photon entanglement over 101 kilometers of optical fiber

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a quantum network node using trapped ions that can establish entanglement with photons over 101 km of optical fiber, enhancing long-distance quantum communication capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a multimode approach to entangle multiple qubits with photons over long distances, improving entanglement distribution rates in quantum networks.

Findings

Successful entanglement of ion-qubits with photons over 101 km fiber

Remote entanglement rate exceeds single-qubit schemes

Multimode approach boosts long-distance quantum communication

Abstract

A three-qubit quantum network node based on trapped atomic ions is presented. The ability to establish entanglement between each of the qubits in the node and a separate photon that has travelled over a 101km-long optical fiber is demonstrated. By sending those photons through the fiber in close succession, a remote entanglement rate is achieved that is greater than when using only a single qubit in the node. Once extended to more qubits, this multimode approach can be a useful technique to boost entanglement distribution rates in future long-distance quantum networks of light and matter.