2026/08/04 by Daniel Spegel-Lexne, Joakim Argillander, Martin Clason +5
Physics and Astronomy · #quant-ph #physics.optics
11 pages, 8 figures. Please see the parallel paper "Poled-fibre phase modulator for efficient high-dimensional quantum measurements'' that was submitted today to the arXiv
arxiv created 2026/08/04 · arxiv updated 2026/08/06
Packet-switched quantum networks require buffers that can delay qubit payloads while routing information is read out in real time. Previous approaches have not provided this functionality in a fully fibre-integrated architecture compatible with telecom infrastructure. Here we demonstrate an optical-fibre-integrated buffer, based on a recirculating loop and a fibre storage line, in which the storage time of a polarisation-encoded qubit payload is determined by readout of an attached packet header. The key component behind this achievement is an ultra-low-loss poled fibre phase modulator, which provides fast, polarisation-insensitive switching directly in fibre and allows header and payload to be processed within the buffer. We demonstrate storage and retrieval of polarisation-encoded qubit payloads for storage times up to 47 μs, with an average quantum bit error rate of 1.8% together with stable operation over several hours. These results establish a practical fibre-based architecture for packet-level quantum network buffering that can easily integrate into the current telecommunication infrastructure opening up new paths for deployment of the quantum internet.