Qunnect, a Brooklyn-based company, has created technology to share quantum-entangled photons for secure communication networks. The firm recently achieved entanglement swapping over 17.6 kilometers of fiber-optic cables between Brooklyn and Manhattan. This advancement supports the development of an unhackable quantum internet.
Qunnect has dedicated nearly a decade to engineering devices that enable the practical distribution of quantum-entangled photons, essential for unhackable communication systems. At its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, researchers assemble lasers, lenses, and crystals into compact magenta boxes that form the Carina rack system.
In February, Qunnect's team demonstrated entanglement swapping across 17.6 kilometers of fiber-optic cables linking Brooklyn and Manhattan through a commercial data center. This process transfers quantum entanglement from one pair of photons to another, extending security over distances. The system reliably swapped entanglement for 5400 photon pairs per hour, operating autonomously for days—a rate double that of prior experiments.
Entangled photons originate from a device containing rubidium atoms vapor, excited by laser light to generate pairs. Adjustments, such as the angle of laser entry, have boosted production efficiency. These photons travel through New York City's fiber network to institutions like New York University and Columbia University.
Mehdi Namazi, from Qunnect, explained the setup process: “If you have two of these [Carina] racks, you can have distribution of entanglement within a few hours.” Peter Feldman of QTD Systems, which operates the Manhattan data center, noted the user-friendliness: “I don’t have to know anything about quantum physics.” The devices support remote control and weeks-long autonomous operation.
Similar quantum networks operate in Hefei, China, and Chicago, Illinois, though challenges like photon loss over distances persist. Qunnect's technology already offers applications, such as integrating entangled photons with classical data streams to detect interception attempts. Alexander Gaeta of Columbia University highlighted potential for location-based identity verification in secure exchanges. Javad Shabani of New York University pointed to nearby financial institutions as likely adopters: “Once you have the infrastructure, the end users will come, and they are probably across the street.”
