Quantum

Ultra-Accurate Technology For Quantum Networking

Safran continues to pioneer leading-edge quantum solutions through its White Rabbit technology, enabling precise synchronization for quantum computing and quantum networks.

What Is Quantum & Who Is It For?

Quantum computing uses qubits in its processors instead of the traditional bits (i.e. 0s and 1s) to calculate data and information. Qubits can be both 1 and 0 at the same time – and this allows quantum computers to solve complex problems much faster than the existing computers we normally use today — problems such as cryptography, machine learning, optimization problems and more.

Quantum computing and networking is being used in applications for:

Governments and Defense Agencies

For ultra-secure communication using quantum key distribution (QKD), which is immune to eavesdropping. Quantum key distribution can help with encryption.

Financial Institutions

To safeguard sensitive transactions and communications from potential quantum hacking. Quantum computing can also help with cutting edge financial modeling.

Research Institutions and Universities

For experiments in quantum physics and long-distance entanglement, and to link quantum computers for collaborative computing.

Quantum Tech Companies

To connect quantum processors and build larger-scale quantum computing systems that can help with machine learning. Quantum computers can accelerate the processing of data faster, and solve logistical problems, supply chain management, and route processing.

White Rabbit Diagram outlining detector, processes, and inverse configuration setup, from leader to follower.

Safran Quantum Computing & Networking Solutions

As most of the new quantum nodes are interconnected in a network – or even across distances in multiple facilities – Safran offers quantum-adjacent technology to synchronize these systems.

Ethernet-based time transfer protocols such as White Rabbit (WR) can be used to synchronize two distant quantum-networked nodes to below 4 picoseconds.

Histogram comparison of timing jitter in quantum network synchronization setups. Panel A shows picosecond scale jitter with a basic setup. Panel B shows improved nanosecond level jitter using a Safran White Rabbit-based synchronization system, demonstrating enhanced precision for quantum communication nodes.

Safran timing and synchronization devices ensure that the data from quantum nodes is sent on time, and reduces latency. This also helps act as a triggering and control system, so that it can tell the quantum nodes precisely when to do things. Because qubits need to be sent and processed at an incredibly fast rate, it is imperative to have ultra-accurate time and synchronization among the nodes. And this is where the Safran White Rabbit technology comes in.

White Rabbit time & frequency distribution also enables quantum networks to transmit data across distances and stay synchronized so that they can perform quantum computations and network communications.

White Rabbit Based Solutions can conform to the stringent requirements of Quantum Communications.

Panel (a) displays high-resolution signal timing centered around zero delay, while panel (b) shows a broader distribution with overlaid dual-axis curves, demonstrating precision time and frequency alignment for quantum communications.

Time Sensitive Networking In Quantum

Time Sensitive Networking allows the deterministic communication of control and auxiliary data with bounded latencies over the same channel used for the White Rabbit time synchronization. This combination enables the scalability of quantum computers and quantum networks, leading to the completion of the quantum internet. For quantum systems with multiple Quantum Instrumentation Systems, heterogeneous quantum elements (i.e., optical switches and quantum memories), timestamping or data acquisition hardware, then using a White Rabbit based timing solution is essential.

Similarly, if you have heterogeneous networks for control, data acquisition – or multiple, competing flows with varying priorities, or specific deadlines for event control with low jitter (determinism) requirements, then you could benefit from a White Rabbit based timing solution.

Similarly, if you need a common time reference for system-wide coordination, then you could benefit from using a White Rabbit based timing solution.

With 10G + WR Deterministic TSN interfaces, You can achieve:
picosecond-level signal triggering & control distribution

Instrumentation Control For Quantum

Leveraging our experience in control hardware for particle accelerators, High Energy Physics experiments and aeronautics, the solutions offered by Safran complement Quantum Instrumentation Systems to ease their integration in quantum computing and networking. Safran offers management and monitoring features to allow the integration of the Instrumentation Control Systems in complex and heterogeneous systems, plus the capability to customize the design from the electronics to the software, including the FPGA and RF frequencies in use, making our solution a reference for lower cost per qubit quantum control.

Safran’s Control and Diagnostic Systems meet the triggering, synchronization, data acquisition and RF control demands of quantum systems, as well as other advanced scientific facilities.

Maintaining the stability of electromagnetic fields within accelerating cavities is paramount. The Low-Level RF system offers precise control over these fields, utilizing digital RF stabilization to ensure that particle beams remain focused and on course. Available in both uTCA and stand-alone configurations, this system adapts to various operational requirements.

Synchronization Solution Ecosystem

Safran offers a range of solutions to help solve latency and synchronization challenges with respect to quantum networking. The solutions include time servers, a distribution layer as well as end nodes. With Safran’s White Rabbit solutions, for example, you’ll get:

Improved timing stability
RF distribution & sub-ns timing
Finer, pico-second level latency control
New applications: science, radars, defense communications, ultra-secure communication, enabling quantum key distribution
Improve network security with quantum networking
Pairs of entangled photons over dedicated optical network
Photon pulses last ~2 ns → ns-level jitter control & subns level measurements (e.g., TDCs)
TSN control plane for steering optical switches & event distribution
Centralized network control and user-driven optimized settings
TSN with high-accuracy PTP, e.g., White Rabbit timing for ps-level timing
Low-latency transmissions for event & trigger distribution

Most importantly, Safran’s White Rabbit solutions can address the transfer of qubits over long distances & solve attenuation issues for large-scale deployments!

Diagram of Safran’s White Rabbit synchronization ecosystem showing time servers (SecureSync, WR0X), distribution layer devices (WR-Z16, WR-switch), and end nodes (WR-ZEN, timing system, HATI IP core), illustrating a scalable architecture for precise quantum network timing.

QICK Box

The QICK box is a comprehensive control and readout system for QIS including quantum computing, quantum networks, and quantum sensors.

QICK is developed at Fermilab and supported primarily through the lab’s key partnership in the Quantum Science Center – a DOE National Quantum Initiative Science Research Center, headquartered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Learn More

Front view of the QICK box, a rack-mounted quantum control and readout system developed at Fermilab for use in quantum computing, networks, and sensors.

Quantum Readiness Starts Here

The operation of the Quantum Internet hinges on the major building blocks of deterministic communications, low-jitter timing dissemination, consistent system-wide orchestration, and long-distance devices.

High-performance WR timing is a must to ensure viable implementations in combination with the latest transceiver and fiber technologies.