Insider Brief Researchers operated a programmable quantum photonic processor in orbit, demonstrating two-photon interference as an early step toward onboard quantum computing.
The processor manipulated two photons in a six-path optical circuit, but detector failures, radiation damage and sunlight-related noise constrained its performance.
Researchers programmed different circuit settings and observed two-photon quantum interference, a behavior needed for several approaches to photonic quantum computing.
This project combined a programmable optical circuit with interference between photons, bringing together two elements needed to process quantum information aboard a spacecraft.
There are potential commercial applications — or, at least, practical applications — for an eventual space-based quantum computing systems.