Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
05:30
Large Scale Energy Efficient Sensor Network Routing Using a Quantum Processor Unit
Published on: September 8, 2023
659
Predicting atmospheric turbulence for secure quantum communications in free space
Optics Express
|August 13, 2025
Summary
We developed TAROQQO, a recurrent neural network, to predict atmospheric turbulence for quantum communication. Accurate turbulence forecasting enables optimal timing for secure free-space quantum key distribution links.
Area of Science:
- Quantum communication
- Atmospheric physics
- Machine learning
Background:
- Atmospheric turbulence hinders large-scale free-space quantum communication by distorting optical signals.
- Predicting turbulence strength is crucial for establishing secure quantum links by optimizing transmission timing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and train a recurrent neural network (TAROQQO) for forecasting atmospheric turbulence strength.
- To assess the impact of turbulence prediction on quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols.
Main Methods:
- A recurrent neural network, TAROQQO, was trained using 9 months of weather and turbulence data from a 5.4 km intra-city free-space link.
- Simulations of a high-dimensional QKD protocol using orbital angular momentum states were performed under various turbulence regimes.
Main Results:
- TAROQQO demonstrated the ability to predict turbulence strength in a free-space optical channel.
- Accurate turbulence predictions were shown to be beneficial for a simulated QKD protocol, especially in challenging turbulence conditions.
Conclusions:
- TAROQQO is a valuable tool for validating free-space channels and optimizing secure communication link establishment.
- Accurate turbulence forecasting is essential for the practical implementation of large-scale free-space quantum networks.
Related Concept Videos
00:59Propagation of Uncertainty from Random Error
1.1K
An experiment often consists of more than a single step. In this case, measurements at each step give rise to uncertainty. Because the measurements occur in successive steps, the uncertainty in one step necessarily contributes to that in the subsequent step. As we perform statistical analysis on these types of experiments, we must learn to account for the propagation of uncertainty from one step to the next. The propagation of uncertainty depends on the type of arithmetic operation performed on...
1.1K
01:30Propagation Speed of Electromagnetic Waves
4.0K
Electromagnetic waves are consistent with Ampere's law. Assuming there is no conduction current Ampere's law is given as:
4.0K
01:30Plane Electromagnetic Waves I
4.3K
The existence of combined electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space as electromagnetic (EM) waves is the most significant prediction of Maxwell's equations. As Maxwell's equations hold in free space, the predicted electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for their propagation. An EM wave comprises an electric field, defined as the force per charge on a stationary charge, and a magnetic field, which is the force per charge on a moving charge.
The EM field is assumed...
The EM field is assumed...
4.3K
01:10Propagation of Uncertainty from Systematic Error
884
The atomic mass of an element varies due to the relative ratio of its isotopes. A sample's relative proportion of oxygen isotopes influences its average atomic mass. For instance, if we were to measure the atomic mass of oxygen from a sample, the mass would be a weighted average of the isotopic masses of oxygen in that sample. Since a single sample is not likely to perfectly reflect the true atomic mass of oxygen for all the molecules of oxygen on Earth, the mass we obtain from this...
884
04:08The Uncertainty Principle
24.4K
Werner Heisenberg considered the limits of how accurately one can measure properties of an electron or other microscopic particles. He determined that there is a fundamental limit to how accurately one can measure both a particle’s position and its momentum simultaneously. The more accurate the measurement of the momentum of a particle is known, the less accurate the position at that time is known and vice versa. This is what is now called the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. He...
24.4K
01:29Plane Electromagnetic Waves II
3.6K
Consider a plane wavefront traveling in position x-direction with a constant speed. This wavefront can be utilized to obtain the relationship between electric and magnetic fields with the help of Faraday's law.
3.6K