NASA Develops Its First Quantum Memory at Glenn Research Center

In partnership with Infleqtion Inc., scientists at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland have successfully developed NASA's inaugural quantum memory. This marks NASA's initial move towards establishing a comprehensive quantum network, potentially enhancing space communication security and enabling groundbreaking scientific advancements.

Quantum memory retains information encoded in matter or photons - individual light particles - for specified periods. The newly developed memory at Glenn captures data in a cloud of laser-cooled atoms and subsequently releases it as photons.

While terrestrial quantum networks typically utilize fiber optic systems, quantum information deteriorates over relatively short distances, limiting network scale. Quantum memory could overcome this limitation, allowing quantum networks to extend over much greater distances.

"If we're able to put quantum memory into space, then we could use free space transmission and further those distances to spanning the country," said Dr. Adam Fallon, quantum scientist at NASA Glenn.

An expansive quantum network would accelerate information processing, enhance data security, and increase the precision of space exploration compared to conventional computer networks.

"So, quantum may provide NASA the ability to explore or sense things in space that we could not do otherwise classically," said Evan Katz, quantum scientist at NASA Glenn. "While quantum networks are a little further down the road, in the here-and-now, we are excited to have received this memory through an SBIR effort with Infleqtion Inc. so that we can understand more about how quantum memory impacts quantum networks."

The quantum team at Glenn aims to refine the new technology and incorporate their findings into models to simulate its operation in a large-scale quantum network. They plan to share their insights with NASA, academia, and industry to progress toward developing a quantum network.

Infleqtion Inc. developed the quantum memory through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program, which funds the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies to meet NASA's and the commercial market's needs.