Fraunhofer IOF to Revolutionize Quantum Communications and Microscopy

The institution uses entangled photon pairs to make advancements in communication, biology, and medicine.

| Jan 08, 2021 09:05 AM EST

Created: Jan 08, 2021 09:05 AM EST

CES 2021 is fast approaching and we could not be more excited. One research institute that is definitely on our radar is Fraunhofer IOF.

The German organization specializes in quantum technology and has been working on some impressive achievements in communications and microscopy.

New encryption methods

In the world of communication, Fraunhofer IOF is developing a new encryption technology known as "quantum key distribution" (QKD for short) to protect data today against the cyber attacks of tomorrow. At CES 2021, Fraunhofer IOF will showcase the EPS (short for “Entangled Photon Source”) that generates entangled photon pairs that can serve as the basis for generating quantum-based keys.

This technology has been developed at the Fraunhofer Institute in Jena, Germany, and is the core element at the heart of a new method of quantum communication.

Microscopy

But that's not all that Fraunhofer IOF uses entangled photon pairs for. These elements also serve as the basis of a new microscopy technique that does not cause irreversible damage to the samples as light radiation does. This is because these two photons exchange information with each other without having to interact with the sample itself.

"In this way, relevant information can be extracted from a living sample without exposing it to light radiation of harmful intensity. Damage to the sample is thus prevented or, depending on the application, significantly delayed," writes the organization's press release. The technique has unlimited applications in biology and even medicine.