Quantum Light for Secure Communications

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Synopsis

This project explores how the quantum properties of light can be used to develop new approaches to secure optical communication. Students will investigate squeezed light, optical measurements and information encoding, and explore how quantum correlations can enable communication capabilities beyond conventional optical systems.

Description

Quantum technologies offer new ways to transmit and process information by exploiting physical properties of light. One important example is squeezed light, a non-classical state of light with reduced quantum noise. Squeezed light is an important resource for quantum sensing, quantum information and emerging quantum communication technologies.

In this project, students will explore the generation, measurement and application of squeezed states for quantum communication. Depending on the student’s interests and background, the project may involve experimental quantum optics, optical and electronic instrumentation, signal and data processing, numerical modelling, or communication protocols.

Students may gain experience with lasers, nonlinear optics, optical cavities, photodetectors and modulation systems, together with computational analysis of experimental data. The project will introduce key concepts including optical quantum noise, squeezing, quantum correlations, information encoding and communication through lossy optical channels.

The broader aim is to understand how quantum optical resources can be translated from fundamental laboratory experiments into practical communication technologies. The project is suitable for students interested in quantum physics, photonics, experimental physics, communications, or the interface between physics and information science.

Required background

No specialised quantum-optics experience is required. A background in undergraduate physics, engineering, photonics, mathematics, or a related discipline would be suitable. Familiarity with basic optics, quantum mechanics, programming or data analysis would be helpful but is not essential.

Research fields