History

ThinkQuantum stands on the shoulders of QuantumFuture research group, with 20 years long background in Quantum Optics, Optical Quantum Information Processing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Key Distribution and Quantum Random Number Generation

The expertise of QuantumFuture in satellite quantum communication dates back to the beginning of 2000s, when professor Villoresi started collaborating with the Matera Laser Ranging Observatory (MLRO) of the Italian Space Agency.  By exploiting satellite-laser-ranging to emulate a single-photon source in Space, QuantumFuture  group run different pioneeristic experiments demostrating the capability of detecting single-photon coming from satellites in LEO [1], MEO [2] and GNSS orbits [3], as well as the feasibility of implementing different quantum information encodings, such as polarization [4] and time-bin [5] along satellite channels. This series of experiments culminated with the realization of a fundamental test of Quantum Mechanics in Space,  the so-called Wheeler’s delayed-choice experiment [6].

Meanwhile, the group realized various QKD experiments over horizontal links in free-space, in which it is crucial to face the detrimental effects due to atmospheric turbulence. For example, a 143km-long QKD link between two Canary islands was implemented in 2015 to test a new technique to mitigate the effects [7]. More recently, the most long-lasting daylight QKD  has been performed in an urban environment [8], taking advantages of integrated photonics technology and adaptive-optics correction at the receiver.
Quantum Future research has been funded by different organizations at the national and international level, e.g., Italian Space Agency, European Space Agency, European Commission. In particular, QuantumFuture is the unique Italian partner of the OPENQKD project, which aims at implementing various QKD testbeds and use-cases all around Europe. Within OPENQKD QuantumFuture developed QKD systems for fiber links that have been tested in real-world scenarios by exploiting the deployed network of the University of Padova [9], also with the coexistence of classical and quantum communication over the same fiber [10].
The group introduced new schemes and devices for the generation of high-quality polarization-states for QKD: the POGNAC encoder [11] and its improved version, the iPOGNAC [12], show intrinsic long-term stability and a record-low quantum bit error rate [13]. The above devices, together with a novel syncronization techique for QKD named Qubit4Sync [14], are at the core of the QKD technology offered by ThinkQuantum. Moreover, the robustness of iPOGNAC makes it a suitable solution to design quantum paylod for satellites. In this regard, QuantumFuture is leading the development of I-QKD, the Italian quantum communication in-orbit-validation satellite  funded by the Italian Space Agency, and QUANGO, that aims at the development of the components for a CubeSat with QKD and 5G capability.

The Quantum path in Padova

Main research results by the QuantumFuture research group at the Department of Information Engineering of the University of Padova

References

2003

University of Padova Research Project “SpaceQ – Quantum Information and Communication in space channels” (Principal Investigator, PI, P. Villoresi).

2003
2008

First world demonstration of the feasibility of single photon exchange from the Ajisai satellite at 1600 km slant-distance [1].

2008
2009

University of Padova Strategic Project “QuantumFuture – Communications at the quantum limit” (PI P. Villoresi).

Feasibility study of a quantum transmitter for the space station, funded by the Italian Space Agency ASI (PI P. Villoresi).

2009
2011

Public demonstration of Quantum Key Distribution in the Palazzo della Ragione – Padova. 

2011
2013

Public demonstration of Quantum Key Distribution in the Agora of the Centro S. Gaetano – Padova. 

2013
2014

First world demonstration of quantum communication from satellite, published in 2015, among the 8 Highlights of the year for the American Physical Society [4].

First Quantum Random Number Generator with untrusted source [15].

2014
2015

First demonstration of Quantum interference along Space channels by exploiting temporal modes [5].

2015
2016

New distance limit of single photon exchange from satellite at 7000 km slant-distance [2].

2016
2017
Verification with photons in space of the fundamental property of light known as wave-particle duality [6]. First ultra-fast (>1Gbps) QRNG in a source-device-independent framework (patented) [16].
2017
2018
New distance limit of single photon exchange from satellite at 20 000 km slant-distance [3]. Ultra-fast QRNG with untrusted source up to 17 Gbps [17].
2018
2019

Demonstration of free-space QKD in daylight conditions with integrated photonics [8].

2019
2020
Kick-off of “QUASAR – Quantum Safe Randomness”, a Research Project of Excellence funded by Cariparo  (Coordinator: G. Vallone). Development and patenting of I-POGNAC, the Qubit-source with the lowest intrinsic noise so far demostrated fitting fiber and free-space applications (patented) [12]. Launch of the ASI project for I-QKD quantum communications demonstrator in orbit (Coordinator: P. Villoresi). Installed the GaliQEye telescope at the Department of Information Engineering. The Padua Quantum Technologies Research Center, headed by Prof. Villoresi, started its activities at the end of 2020 gathering four departments: Information Engineering, Chemical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy and Mathematics.
2020
2021
Kick-off of EU Project QUANGO on CubeSat with QKD and 5G capabilities (Coordinator: G. Vallone). Secure communications based on QKD through the existing TLC fiber network of the University of Padova [9] [10]. University of Padova grants the status of University spin-off to ThinkQuantum, enabling access to IPs and resources.
2021
2022

ThinkQuantum QKD and QRNG systems are launched in the market.

iPOGNAC patent wins the Intellectual Property Award for Cybersecurity at Dubai Expo 2022. 

2022
  1. P. Villoresi et al., Experimental verification of the feasibility of a quantum channel between space and Earth, New J. Phys. 10, 033038 (2008)
  2. D. Dequal et al., Experimental single-photon exchange along a space link of 7000 km, Phys. Rev. A 93, 010301(R) (2016)
  3. L. Calderaro et al., Towards quantum communication from global navigation satellite system, Quantum Sci. Technol. 4, 015012 (2019)
  4. G. Vallone et al., Experimental Satellite Quantum Communications, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 040502 (2015)
  5. G. Vallone et al., Interference at the Single Photon Level Along Satellite-Ground Channels, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 253601 (2016) 
  6. F. Vedovato et al., Extending Wheeler’s delayed-choice experiment to space, Sci. Adv. 3, e1701180 (2017)
  7. G. Vallone et al., Adaptive real time selection for quantum key distribution in lossy and turbulent free-space channels, Phys. Rev. A 91, 042320 (2015)
  8. M. Avesani et al., Full daylight quantum-key-distribution at 1550 nm enabled by integrated silicon photonics, npj Quantum Inf. 7, 93 (2021)
  9. M. Avesani et al., Resource-effective quantum key distribution: a field trial in Padua city center, Opt. Lett. 46, 2848-2851 (2021)
  10. M. Avesani et al., Deployment-Ready Quantum Key Distribution Over a Classical Network Infrastructure in Padua,   J. Light. Technol. 40, 1658-1663 (2022)
  11. C. Agnesi et al., All-fiber self-compensating polarization encoder for quantum key distribution, Opt. Lett. 44, 2398-2401 (2019)
  12. M. Avesani et al., Stable, low-error and calibration-free polarization encoder for free-space quantum communication, Opt. Lett. 45, 4706-4709 (2020)
  13. C. Agnesi et al., Simple Quantum Key Distribution with qubit-based synchronization and a self-compensating polarization encoder, Optica 7(4), 284-290 (2020)
  14. L. Calderaro et al., Fast and simple qubit-based synchronization for quantum key distribution, Phys. Rev. Applied 13, 054041 (2020)
  15. G. Vallone et al.,  Quantum randomness certified by the uncertainty principle, Phys. Rev. A 90, 052327 (2014)
  16. D. G. Marangon et al., Source-Device-Independent Ultrafast Quantum Random Number Generation, Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 060503 (2017)
  17. M. Avesani et al., Source-device-independent heterodyne-based quantum random number generator at 17 Gbps, Nat. Commun. 9, 5365 (2018)