Breakthrough in Quantum Interferometry: Entangled Memories Extend Measurement Baselines to 1.55 km

February 25, 2026
Breakthrough in Quantum Interferometry: Entangled Memories Extend Measurement Baselines to 1.55 km
  • The study demonstrates quantum-memory-assisted interferometry across a two-station network, achieving an end-to-end protocol that entangles nuclear qubits, collects signal photons through SMSPG, and performs non-local heralding to extract differential phase from nuclear XX parity measurements.

  • Background: Optical interferometry faces baseline-related attenuation from photon loss and fibre connections, and incorporating quantum memories and entanglement offers a path to extend baselines and boost sensitivity.

  • The report adopts a technical, objective tone, detailing experimental procedures, data, figures, and methods while outlining practical advances and ongoing challenges.

  • Each station uses silicon-vacancy centers in diamond nanophotonic cavities with a two-qubit register (electron spin as communication qubit and 29Si nuclear spin as memory) and reads signal fields reflected from fibre-coupled cavities through an optical network.

  • Differential phase φ between stations is inferred via non-local measurements; entangled memories enable optimal non-local sensing by heralding photon arrivals without revealing station identities, improving signal-to-noise.

  • Event-ready entanglement is demonstrated with Bell-state preparation (Ψ−) and fidelities around 0.83, yielding practical entanglement rates suitable for sensing experiments (about 13 Hz at F≥0.5, 1.9 Hz at F≥0.79).

  • Key innovations include an improved parallel entanglement scheme and non-local, non-destructive photon heralding that filters vacuum fluctuations to boost interferometer visibility while preserving differential phase information.

  • Baseline extension is achieved by inserting fibre between stations up to about 1.55 km, attaining nuclear Bell-pair fidelity around 0.63 and showing φ-dependent nuclear parity oscillations that indicate preserved local-phase processing over longer links.

  • The work presents a concise introductory summary of quantum-memory-assisted, entanglement-enabled non-local interferometry across two stations using SiV centers in diamond to enable long-baseline, memory-enabled measurements.

  • Broader implications point to a practical route for long-baseline quantum interferometry with memories, with potential impact on astronomical imaging, high-resolution sensing, and networked metrology through scalable, memory-assisted non-local measurements.

  • The protocol employs both local and non-local photon heralding via parity measurements on electron spins, and uses photon-mode erasure by interfering signal light with a local oscillator to erase which-path information while preserving nuclear-spin phase data.

  • Limitations include finite Bell-state fidelity, mis-heralding, photon loss, detector dark counts, and microwave errors; addressing these would extend optimal performance to weaker signal regimes and advance practical quantum-enhanced sensing.

Summary based on 1 source


Get a daily email with more Science stories

More Stories