Quantum Optical MUltidimensional NEtworks

Quantum Internet will allow unprecedented applications that will dramatically change our lives, spanning from quantum secured communications to distributed quantum simulations, i.e., ultra-precise clock synchronisation, quantum secured identification, efficient distribution of data and energy, quantum sensors and secure access to quantum devices in the cloud. The main technical limitations currently restricting the range of applicability of the quantum internet are the intrinsic rate-distance limit and the extremely difficult coexistence with the present classical telecommunication infrastructure. Present quantum communication systems mainly use a two-dimensional encoding scheme (qubit) as information unit, which is very fragile and susceptible to external noise. In fact, due to decoherence processes, caused by the interaction with the external environment, the ability of the adopted qubits to remain in superposition and/or in an entangled state is severely jeopardised. On the contrary, by adopting multidimensional quantum states (qudit), which are by nature more robust to noise owing to their higher information efficiency, the potential to realise the quantum internet is within our grasp. QOMUNE intends to build and test the constituents for a Quantum Internet based on multidimensional quantum states, by combining new technological advances with unconventional quantum interference. QOMUNE envisages a novel scheme for the generation, transmission and interference of qudits, which are fundamental actions of a quantum network. Photonic integrated quantum sources combined with multicore deployed fibres and pioneering design of efficient and scalable multidimensional quantum interference will be adopted for the realisation of QOMUNE building blocks. QOMUNEs objectives and results will redefine the state-of-the-art of Quantum Internet in terms of tolerance to noise in a realistic scenario and coexistence with the worldwide telecommunication infrastructure.