The promotion of quantum network applications demands the scalable connection of quantum resources.It is preferable to set up multiple logical networks coexisting on a single physical network infrastructure to accommo...The promotion of quantum network applications demands the scalable connection of quantum resources.It is preferable to set up multiple logical networks coexisting on a single physical network infrastructure to accommodate a larger number of users.Here we present a quantum virtual network architecture that offers this level of scalability,without being constrained to a fixed physical-layer network relying solely on passive multiplexing components.The architecture can be understood as arising from the superposition of a fully connected entanglement distribution network and port-based virtual local area network,which group multiusers by access ports.In terms of hardware,we leverage a semiconductor chip with a high figure-of-merit modal overlap to directly generate high-quality polarization entanglement,and a streamlined polarization analysis module,which requires only one single-photon detector for each end user.We experimentally perform the BBM92 QKD protocol on the five-user quantum virtual network and demonstrate voice and image encryption on a campus area network.Our results may provide insights into the realization of large-scale quantum networks with integrated and cost-efficient photonic architecture.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12274233,and 12274223)the Major Scientific Research Project of Anhui Province(Grant No.KJ2021ZD0005)+3 种基金the Scientific Research Planning Project of Anhui Province(Grant No.2022AH040020)the University Collaborative Innovation Project of Anhui Province(Grant No.GXXT-2021-091)the Program of Song Shan Laboratory(Included in the Management of Major Science and Technology Program of Henan Province)(Grant No.221100210800-02)the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.SJCX23_0569)。
文摘The promotion of quantum network applications demands the scalable connection of quantum resources.It is preferable to set up multiple logical networks coexisting on a single physical network infrastructure to accommodate a larger number of users.Here we present a quantum virtual network architecture that offers this level of scalability,without being constrained to a fixed physical-layer network relying solely on passive multiplexing components.The architecture can be understood as arising from the superposition of a fully connected entanglement distribution network and port-based virtual local area network,which group multiusers by access ports.In terms of hardware,we leverage a semiconductor chip with a high figure-of-merit modal overlap to directly generate high-quality polarization entanglement,and a streamlined polarization analysis module,which requires only one single-photon detector for each end user.We experimentally perform the BBM92 QKD protocol on the five-user quantum virtual network and demonstrate voice and image encryption on a campus area network.Our results may provide insights into the realization of large-scale quantum networks with integrated and cost-efficient photonic architecture.
