Quantum networks are the ultimate target in quantum communication, where many connected users can share information carried by quantum systems. The keystones of such structures are the reliable generation, transmission, and manipulation of quantum states. Two-dimensional quantum states, qubits, are steadily adopted as information units. However, high-dimensional quantum states, qudits, constitute a richer resource for future quantum networks, exceeding the limitations imposed by the ubiquitous qubits. The generation and manipulation of such $D$-level systems have been improved over the last ten years, but their reliable transmission between remote locations remains the main challenge. Here, we show how a recent air-core fiber supporting orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes can be exploited to faithfully transmit $D$-dimensional states. Four OAM quantum states and their superpositions are created, propagated in a 1.2-km-long fiber and detected with high fidelities. In addition, three quantum-key-distribution protocols are implemented as concrete applications to assert the practicality of our results. This experiment enhances the distribution of high-dimensional quantum states, attesting the orbital angular momentum as a vessel for the future quantum network.

Graphene‐based photodetectors, taking advantage of the high carrier mobility and broadband absorption in graphene, have recently seen rapid development. However, their performance with respect to responsivity and bandwidth is still limited by the weak light‐graphene interaction and large resistance‐capacitance product. Here, we demonstrate a waveguide‐coupled integrated graphene plasmonic photodetector on a silicon‐on‐insulator platform. Benefiting from plasmon‐enhanced graphene‐light interaction and subwavelength confinement of the optical energy, a small‐footprint graphene‐plasmonic photodetector is achieved working at the telecommunication window, with a large a bandwidth beyond 110 GHz and a high intrinsic responsivity of 360 mA/W. Attributed to the unique electronic band structure of graphene and its ultra‐broadband absorption, operational wavelength range extending beyond mid‐infrared, and possibly further, can be anticipated. Our results show that the combination of graphene with plasmonic devices has great potential to realize ultra‐compact, high‐speed optoelectronic devices for graphene‐based optical interconnects.

To accommodate the ever increasing wireless traffic in the access networks, considerable efforts have been recently invested in developing photonics-assisted wireless communication systems with very high data rates. Superior to photonic millimeter-wave systems, terahertz (THz) band (300 GHz-10 THz) provides a much larger bandwidth and thus promises an extremely high capacity. However, the capacity potential of THz wireless systems has by no means been achieved yet. Here, we successfully demonstrate 160 Gbit/s wireless transmission by using a single THz emitter and modulating 25 GHz spaced 8 channels (20 Gbps per channel) in the 300-500 GHz band, which is the highest bitrate in the frequency band above 300 GHz, to the best of our knowledge.

To accommodate the demand of exponentially increased global wireless data traffic, the prospective data rates for wireless communication in the market place will soon reach 100 Gbit/s and beyond. In the lab environment, wireless transmission throughput has been elevated to the level of over 100 Gbit/s attributed to the development of photonic-assisted millimeter wave (MMW) and THz technologies. However, most of recent demonstrations with over 100 Gbit/s data rates are based on spatial or frequency division multiplexing techniques, resulting in increased system's complexity and energy consumption. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a single channel 0.4 THz photonic-wireless link achieving a net data rate of beyond 100 Gbit/s by using a single pair of THz emitter and receiver, without employing any spatial/frequency division multiplexing techniques. The high throughput up to 106 Gbit/s within a single THz channel is enabled by combining spectrally efficient modulation format, ultra-broadband THz transceiver and advanced digital signal processing (DSP) routine. Besides that, our demonstration from system-wide implementation viewpoint also features high transmission stability, and hence shows its great potential to not only decrease the system's complexity, but also meet the requirements of prospective data rates for bandwidth-hungry short-range wireless applications.

We have generated a single-wavelength data signal with a data capacity of 5.1 Tbit/s. The enabling techniques to generate the data signal are optical time-division multiplexing up to a symbol rate of 1.28 Tbaud, differential quadrature phase shift keying as data format, and polarisation-multiplexing. For the first time, error-free performance with a bit error rate less than 10⁻⁹ is demonstrated for the 5.1 Tbit/s data signal. This is achieved in a back-to-back configuration using a direct detection receiver based on polarisation- and time-demultiplexing, delay-demodulation and balanced photo-detection.