In a significant advancement for Canada’s quantum communications journey, a photon detector module was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) SpaceX flight, marking a key step towards establishing secure quantum networks.
Designed, assembled, and programmed at the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), the photon detector is funded under the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) Flights and Fieldwork for the Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST) initiative, which is part of a larger research called the Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment (SEAQUE).
The SEAQUE mission explores quantum key distribution (QKD), a technique that produces the unique properties of photons to generate unbreakable encryption keys. As vulnerabilities in cybersecurity increase, quantum encryption is being developed to establish a more secure way of sharing sensitive data.
To evaluate the photon detector’s performance after direct exposure to extreme radiation, the initiative includes the development of four single-photon detectors, multi-channel coincidence detection, and a microcontroller for operation and photon counting.
Dr. Thomas Jennewein, an IQC affiliate and adjunct professor in Waterloo’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, highlighted, “It will be very exciting to follow the results from the SEAQUE experiments conducted in space. We know from lab tests that laser annealing of radiated detectors is very effective, but the space environment brings some interesting challenges due to the high laser powers. The SEAQUE mission will be the first to verify this method on a device with small size and power, in the context of quantum entanglement experiments.
Moreover, the CSA is preparing the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat) mission to demonstrate QKD between the ground and space using a Canadian-built quantum communication platform.
The development of the photon detector module is part of Canada’s broader strategy to advance the future quantum communication satellite technologies.
More on Canada’s Quantum Technology:
Canada's Quantum Research Vision: CAD 74M Funding Fuels Innovation Drive
Canada's Quantum Leap: CSA Funds Space-Based Encryption Revolution
Strategic Public-Private Partnership Drives Canada’s 5G, AI, and Quantum Tech Innovation
