QuNET: Laser-optical communication channel between aircraft and ground station

In October 2024, researchers successfully established a laser-optical link between the DLR research aircraft DO 228 CFFU and the Fraunhofer IOF’s mobile ground station QuBUS. The aircraft generated laser beams with different wavelengths, which were received and processed by the ground station. The tests showed that a stable channel for the transmission of light particles can be aligned independently.

The aim for 2025 is to couple light particles transmitted through the air with an ion trap. The aim is to guide light particles into a glass fibre that leads to ytterbium ions. In this way, flying light particles could be transmitted into stationary quantum memories – a milestone for mobile quantum communication nodes. At the same time, quantum cryptographic systems are being tested.

You can find more information about the current experiment here: Link