A concept for a Canada-wide quantum internet

Group launching quantum satellite releases next generation mission proposal as a step towards a Canadian quantum internet

By Naomi Grosman

Quantum EncrYption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat), a satellite demonstrating secure ground-to-space quantum communication, will soon orbit the earth. And the researchers at the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) that are making that happen, along with collaborators at the University of Calgary and the Institut national d'optique (INO), have published a white paper outlining a future mission opportunity to establish a step towards a Canada wide quantum internet.

QEYSSat 2.0—white paper on satellite-based quantum communication missions in Canada

Quantum entanglement is when two or more particles become connected, so their states are dependent on each other, regardless of distance. Teleportation is a transfer of this quantum state from one location to another.

Kuntz says it’s possible to distribute these quantum states over ground-based optical fibers to distances of about 400 kilometres. But they lose their quantum properties due to both interaction with the environment and the exponentially increasing absorption, making it currently unfeasible to extend this distance much further other than by using satellite-based systems.

“Entanglement distribution and teleportation forms the backbone of a quantum internet,” Kuntz says. “If you replace a classical computer with a quantum device now you are connecting quantum systems, and for that we need a quantum internet. All these satellites being launched are testing the principles of whether we can make a quantum internet.”

She says there are fundamental questions about quantum states still unanswered and, overall, Canada punches above its weight in quantum technology and science and has the goods to make a quantum network happen.

Preparing this vision and a possible roadmap brings together all the information and ideas to relieve current bottlenecks standing in the way of realizing a quantum internet network in Canada and pushes the country towards it faster.

She says that worldwide there are about 20 known quantum communication satellite missions currently in preparation stages, some of which will be launched soon. But part of what makes QEYSSat unique is that it involves several ground stations in Canada, and will also interact with international stations, including in the U.S., Australia, Japan, Germany, Poland and the U.K.

With ground stations across Canada and internationally, the mission is a technology demonstration platform to study quantum links and Quantum Key Distribution — the generation of encryption keys between two users whose information, based on the principles of quantum physics, cannot be copied or manipulated without being noticed.

“Because we have all these different ground stations in different climates and at various elevations we can discern optimal sources, configurations and setup to get the best signal up to the quantum receiver onboard our satellite,” Kuntz says.

“Other missions have done parts of what we are doing but, put together, this mission is unlike what has been done before.”

Beyond launching a satellite for secure quantum communications, and creating a roadmap for quantum network infrastructure, the QEYSSat mission is also about advancing the understanding of the fundamental nature of our universe.

“There are also science demonstrations to answer questions like whether entanglement will hold over these vast distances because it’s a phenomenon that doesn't seem to have a distance limitation. Exploring new science is another key part to long range quantum communications with satellites, and this approach will continue with the envisioned QEYSSat 2.0 mission.” Kuntz says.

Dr. Thomas Jennewein, IQC affiliate and adjunct faculty, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, led the development of the white paper and is also the initiator and science lead of QEYSSat. He was recently appointed Canada Excellence Research Chair at Simon Fraser University where he is a professor.