QUantum communication Development with Increased Throughput for information Systems (QUDITS)

Project QUDITS is a feasibility study which aims to develop a demonstrator platform to showcase the feasibility of developing quantum communication systems using qudits based on orbital angular momentum (OAM). By using using commercially available novel photonics technologies from the UK supply chain, photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) and low-noise Avalanche Photo-Diodes (ALDs), able to operate at optical communications wavelengths.

Quantum information is shaped around the use of qubits, the quantum analogy to the standard bit. This is a two-level, binary system, which is well known and has been used for many years. All quantum technologies currently being commercialised are based on qubits as the building block of quantum information. However, a two-level system inherently limits the density of information that can be carried in a quantum system. Higher dimensional Hilbert states of quantum information exist, known as qudits, and have more than two discrete states and can carry more information.

The QUDITS project is developing a new area of quantum technologies for a potentially disruptive future communication system that will greatly enhance the state-of-the-art. It will demonstrate the feasibility of generating and detecting qudits from commercially available components from the UK supply chain. Qudits are a natural scale up technology for communication systems, enabling more data to reside on one quantum state, instead of having to send more qubits.