QMC Quantum Memory Concept study

Quantum networks promise to provide huge benefits in the fields of quantum computing, quantum sensing and secure quantum  communication. As with their classical counterparts, these new quantum networks will require the ability to store and retrieve data. A quantum memory is a device that can store arbitrary quantum states of light, such as photonic qubits or entanglement, and retrieve that quantum state on-demand at a user-defined time. Achieving this requires the efficient, coherent, and reversible mapping of the input optical mode to and from a single or collective long-lived matter excitation.

For satellite-based quantum networks there are a number of considerations when selecting a memory platform. For example, the use of low-Earth orbit sets a fundamental lower limit on the storage time needed for the memory. Ideally, quantum memories must also be able to store multiple qubits in order to achieve a useful rate of quantum information exchange and interface with existing network infrastructure. Most quantum memories do not typically perform well across all these requirements and hence compromises must be made. The objective of the Quantum Memory Concept (QMC) project is to identify a candidate platform that best meets the requirements and thus provides the most promising opportunity to realise a satellite-based quantum memory in the future.