Support of the emerging Quantum Technology Industry by Metrology – examples at PTB

Quantum physics looks back at over a century of tradition and represents the foundation of metrology. The last twenty years of progress in science and technology have seen a tremendous increase in the level of control over quantum systems at the most elementary level. This development paves the way for novel applications of quantum technology with relevance for economy and potentially disruptive impact. With this potential comes the need to support the dynamic development with metrology for the emerging quantum industry to create trust, reliability, enable comparability and thus lay the foundation for a future quality infrastructure. The Quantum Technology Center (QTZ) at PTB is addressing this need for several quantum technologies. Examples include:

Ion traps, as a hardware platform for quantum clocks, quantum sensors and quantum computers, have evolved to mature quantum devices which already made the step from a research object into an industrial product. Providing novel products for end users requires fair comparisons of these devices, consequently requiring standardized methods for testing and characterization. QTZ has successfully established a characterization setup for ion traps from industry and academia, providing a stable environment for reproducible and fair comparisons.

Many quantum communication technologies, particularly quantum key distribution, operate within the single-photon domain, leveraging the non-cloning theorem to prevent eavesdropping by transmitting individual photons. QTZ contributes to the establishment of a robust foundation for standardized characterization and future certification activities, by offering testing facilities for key components, such as single-photon detectors, optical attenuators, isolators, and spectral filters.

The precise clocked transport of single electrons has gained a lot of interest for the 2019 revised SI system as a unique and elegant way of a direct realization of the unit ampere. QTZ is developing single-electron pumps based on quantum dots, with the general objectives of robustness, reproducibility and scaling. In addition to their primary use in metrology, these universal devices can be of interest for applications in quantum technology, e.g. in quantum computing as so-called spin qubit shuttles, a connecting path over several µm in length between different qubits, enabling the scaling of complex multiple qubit systems.

Across all fields, documentary standards, developed in an international consensus framework, are a fundamental part of a successful quantum technology ecosystem. PTB is actively contributing to the International IEC/ISO JTC3 and the European CEN/CENELEC JTC22. These activities are complemented by several projects in cooperation with industry. In this contribution, we will give an overview of our activities and discuss future challenges and opportunities of metrology for quantum technology and the emerging quantum industry.