Commercially Scalable Quantum Internet Architecture

A hybrid photonic system that enables quantum networking to scale across existing fiber infrastructure.
Problem:
Developing a commercially scalable quantum internet—one that can substantially reduce deployment costs by using existing fiber networks—is challenged by the fact that current quantum systems remain isolated laboratory platforms incompatible with modern telecom infrastructure. Although the global quantum networking market is projected to grow from about $1 billion in 2025 to over $40 billion by 2035, there is still no practical architecture that can route, manage, and preserve entanglement across real-world fiber. Existing approaches rely on fragile links, centralized control, and measurement-sensitive operations that prevent flexible, economic, internet-scale quantum communication.
Solution:
This invention designs a “classical-decisive” quantum internet where ordinary optical signals manage, but never directly measure, quantum states. A photonic chip wraps entangled photons in quantum payloads tagged with classical headers. Commercial routers read only the headers to route traffic and drive feedback, enabling flexible entanglement distribution and real-time error mitigation over existing fiber networks and familiar internet-style protocols.
Technology:
The system centers on a Si₃N₄ integrated photonic server chip that co-hosts classical and quantum transmitters. A continuous-wave laser is split: one arm encodes classical headers via Mach–Zehnder modulators, the other pumps high-quality microring resonators to generate Bell-state entangled photon pairs by spontaneous four-wave mixing. Wavelength-division and time-division multiplexing separate idler photons for local analysis and combine signal photons with headers into hybrid IP packets. These packets traverse kilometer-scale deployed fibers and commercial routers. Embedded classical polarization probes inform an on-chip correction system that automatically compensates for changes in the fiber, helping maintain high-quality entanglement.
Advantages:

Compatibility with existing infrastructure, such as commercially deployed kilometer-scale fiber and standard routers with only interface-level modifications
Dynamic, scalable routing with hybrid IP packets support many origin/destination pairs
Non-invasive control with classical headers handle addressing, timing, and monitoring without directly measuring the quantum payload, preserving coherence
Real-time error mitigation with classical polarization probes and the on-chip SU(2) compensator maintain >97% inferred accuracy and high entanglement fidelity over hours
Integrated, chip-scale platform with a compact Si₃N₄ photonic chip co-integrates sources, multiplexers, and controllers

Stage of Development:

Bench Prototype

(A) The hybrid server chip integrates a classical transmitter (Tx), a quantum transmitter, and a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) multiplexer (MUX). The classical header includes a Pilot marker, Information Identifier (Information ID), Origin and Destination Internet Protocol (Ori. IP and Dest. IP) addresses, a quantum-payload duration field, and error-detection (ED) signals for real-time state monitoring. (B) Conceptual view of a commercial fiber-optic network distributing hybrid quantum–classical packets. Deployed fiber links connect servers, routers, and nodes, with the classical header directing routing of the quantum payload. (C) Campus-scale testbed at the University of Pennsylvania. The server chip is located at the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) and the router at the Moore Building, linked by ~1-km deployed fiber.
Intellectual Property: