IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), with research support from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), has successfully demonstrated the frequency conversion of photons from visible to telecom wavelengths on a prototype system. This advancement is a step toward interconnecting quantum computers over long distances using existing fiber optic infrastructure.
The core technical challenge addressed is the need to convert visible light, which is used in IonQ’s trapped barium ion quantum systems, into the telecom wavelengths required for efficient transmission over long-haul fiber optic cables. This prototype demonstration follows IonQ’s recent delivery of a trapped-ion quantum computer with an integrated photonic interface to AFRL’s site in Rome, New York. The work is part of IonQ’s long-term vision for the Quantum Internet and distributed quantum computing.
The ability to convert visible light to telecom wavelengths is an essential capability for enabling quantum networks. IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi stated that the company plans to soon connect two quantum computers using commercial fiber infrastructure. The initiative is intended to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem in Upstate New York and bolster national defense capabilities through the partnership between AFRL-Rome and IonQ.
Read the full announcement here.
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