Every time you send a message, someone could be listening. Quantum technology aims to make communication practically eavesdropping-proof. But researchers need an extraordinary tool for this: individual photons that can be generated and measured with high precision. This is exactly what a Saxon research team is now working on.
The project is called DeLiQuaT and has been launched at Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTWD). Fraunhofer IIS and Fraunhofer ENAS, as well as the Technical University of Dresden and Chemnitz University of Technology, are also involved. Together, they aim to develop components that are essential for quantum technologies. These technologies exploit the laws of quantum mechanics – the physics of the smallest particles – to transmit information in a way that is theoretically secure against eavesdropping or to solve certain complex calculations much faster than conventional computers.
Precision down to the smallest detail
At HTWD, the project is led by Professor Kay-Uwe Giering from the Chair of Microsystems Technology. Two research assistants will drive the work forward over the next two years. They will statistically analyse the electrical signals of single-photon detectors in order to improve their ability to reliably distinguish individual photons. Their results will feed directly into the collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS in Dresden.
The overarching goal is clear: to develop reliable light sources, integrate them into real quantum systems and generate knowledge that will help transfer quantum technologies from research into practical applications. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Free State of Saxony.
