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Quantum Communication and Quantum Information
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Quantum Communication and Quantum Information

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Quantum Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 5306

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alice Meda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Torino, Italy
Interests: quantum optics; quantum key distribution; quantum foundations; quantum metrology
Dr. Salvatore Virzì

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy
Interests: quantum optics; entanglement; quantum zeno effect; weak measurement; quantum key distribution; quantum discord

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on Quantum Communication and Quantum Information, an area at the intersection of physics, engineering, and information science that is rapidly transforming secure communication and computational paradigms. The principles of quantum mechanics have paved the way for revolutionary technologies such as quantum cryptography, quantum computing, and quantum networks, with profound implications for cybersecurity, data processing, and computation. Alongside these applied advancements, foundational research in quantum mechanics, quantum nonlocality, and the nature of quantum information continues to challenge our understanding of reality and influence the development of emerging quantum technologies. As both experimental and theoretical approaches evolve, it is essential to explore the interplay between fundamental quantum principles and real-world applications.

This Special Issue aims to bring together theoretical and experimental advances in quantum communication, quantum information processing, and the fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. We encourage submissions that explore practical implementations of quantum technologies, as well as theoretical studies that deepen our understanding of quantum information theory and the foundational principles of quantum mechanics. The scope of this issue aligns with the journal's focus on electronics, communication systems, and emerging quantum technologies, providing a platform for novel research that contributes to the development and integration of quantum systems into real-world applications. Our goal is to compile a high-quality collection of at least 10 articles, which may also be published in book form if this number is reached. Suggested themes and article types for submissions:

In this Special Issue, original research articles and review papers are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Quantum key distribution (QKD) and secure communication
  • Quantum cryptographic protocols and post-quantum security
  • Quantum networks, quantum internet architectures, and distributed quantum computing
  • Quantum teleportation and entanglement-based communication
  • Quantum error correction, fault tolerance, and quantum information storage
  • Quantum information theory and algorithm development
  • Hardware implementations of quantum communication and computation
  • Hybrid classical-quantum communication systems
  • Foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum nonlocality, and contextuality
  • Theoretical aspects of quantum information and its implications for physics

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alice Meda
Guest Editor

Dr. Salvatore Virzì
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • quantum communication
  • quantum information theory
  • quantum cryptography
  • quantum key distribution (QKD)
  • quantum networks
  • quantum entanglement
  • quantum error correction
  • foundations of quantum mechanics
  • quantum computing and algorithms
  • quantum nonlocality and contextuality

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 263 KB  
Article
A Quantum Public-Key Cryptosystem with Reusable Keys Using Entangled States
by Xiaoyu Li and Yue Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3335; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073335 - 30 Mar 2026
Viewed by 269
Abstract
In most traditional quantum public-key cryptosystems, the public key held by the key management center (KMC) is a group of quantum systems. The public key is destroyed after a secret communication process, and so users must reconstruct the public key with the KMC [...] Read more.
In most traditional quantum public-key cryptosystems, the public key held by the key management center (KMC) is a group of quantum systems. The public key is destroyed after a secret communication process, and so users must reconstruct the public key with the KMC after every communication process or hold many copies of the public key in the beginning. This requirement is an obstacle to the practical application of such quantum cryptosystems. This paper describes a quantum public-key cryptosystem with reusable keys using entangled states. Each user shares a set of entangled quantum systems with the KMC as that individual user’s (public key, private key) pair. Two users can exchange secret communications with the help of the KMC. Moreover, the states of the quantum systems revert to their original states. The user’s (public key, private key) pair is unchanged so that the keys are reusable. It is unnecessary for users to reconstruct the public key with the KMC or save many copies of the public key in the KMC. As a result, this public-key cryptosystem is much less expensive to manage and easier to realize in practice than most traditional quantum public-key cryptosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Communication and Quantum Information)
27 pages, 9034 KB  
Article
A Comparison of Optimisation Algorithms for Electronic Polarisation Control in Quantum Key Distribution
by Matt Young, Haofan Duan, Stefano Pirandola and Marco Lucamarini
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2568; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052568 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 487
Abstract
Polarisation encoding is widely used in fibre-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), but random birefringence in optical fibres causes the transmitted states to drift, requiring active compensation at the receiver. Electronic Polarisation Controllers (EPCs) are commonly used for this purpose, yet the relationship between [...] Read more.
Polarisation encoding is widely used in fibre-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), but random birefringence in optical fibres causes the transmitted states to drift, requiring active compensation at the receiver. Electronic Polarisation Controllers (EPCs) are commonly used for this purpose, yet the relationship between their control voltages and the resulting polarisation transformation is highly nonlinear and difficult to model. While optimisation algorithms are frequently employed to align and stabilise polarisation states, their comparative performance has not been systematically studied in realistic QKD settings. In this work, we benchmark four optimisation algorithms for electronic polarisation control, using both a numerical model and a 50 km fibre-based experimental setup. We evaluate each algorithm in terms of convergence time, failure rate, and stability, under both initial alignment and continuous drift compensation scenarios. Coordinate Descent achieved the fastest average alignment time (2.1 ms in simulation; 34.6 s experimentally), while Simulated Annealing delivered perfect reliability. We further propose a hybrid control strategy that combines fast initial alignment with high-reliability realignment. This approach was validated over a continuous 2 h QKD simulation with real fibre drift, demonstrating robust polarisation control without manual intervention. Our results provide guidance for algorithm selection in practical QKD deployments and suggest a pathway to resilient, autonomous polarisation tracking in long-distance quantum networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Communication and Quantum Information)
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19 pages, 4820 KB  
Article
Implementation of Leaking Quantum Walks on a Photonic Processor
by Eleonora Stefanutti, Jonas Philipps, Johannes Bütow, Amir Guidara, Marcello Nuvoli, Andrea Chiuri and Linda Sansoni
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1976; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041976 - 17 Feb 2026
Viewed by 481
Abstract
Quantum walks (QWs) represent pillars of quantum dynamics and information processing. They provide a powerful framework for simulating quantum transport, designing search algorithms, and enabling universal quantum computation. Several physical platforms have been employed for their implementation, such as trapped atoms and ions, [...] Read more.
Quantum walks (QWs) represent pillars of quantum dynamics and information processing. They provide a powerful framework for simulating quantum transport, designing search algorithms, and enabling universal quantum computation. Several physical platforms have been employed for their implementation, such as trapped atoms and ions, nuclear magnetic resonance systems, and photonic quantum architectures either in bulk optics or waveguide structures and fiber loop networks. Here we focus on the most promising and versatile approach, which is photonic integrated circuits. In this work, we review how the employment of this versatile experimental platform has allowed exploring several phenomena related to QW-based protocols, such as evolution in the presence of different kinds of noise. In this landscape, to the best of our knowledge, few examples report on the introduction of absorbing centers and their effects on the coherence of the dynamics. Here we present and discuss the results related to the absorbing boundaries in QWs, obtained through theoretical simulations and experiments conducted with the universal photonic quantum processors realized by QuiX Quantum. We analyze how localized absorption along one lattice edge affects the walker dynamics, depending on both the leakage probability and the initial injection site. Our results suggest that the presence of controlled losses modifies interference patterns and coherence without fully destroying quantum features and providing an effective resource for engineering on-chip QWs and simulating open quantum systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Communication and Quantum Information)
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18 pages, 613 KB  
Article
Harnessing Quantum Entanglement and Fidelity in Hydrogen Atoms: Unveiling Dynamics Under Dephasing Noise
by Kamal Berrada and Smail Bougouffa
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(20), 10938; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152010938 - 11 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 954
Abstract
We investigate the quantum dynamics of entanglement and fidelity in the hyperfine structure of hydrogen atoms under dephasing noise, modeled via the Lindblad master equation. The effective Hamiltonian captures the spin–spin interaction between the electron and proton, with dephasing incorporated through local Lindblad [...] Read more.
We investigate the quantum dynamics of entanglement and fidelity in the hyperfine structure of hydrogen atoms under dephasing noise, modeled via the Lindblad master equation. The effective Hamiltonian captures the spin–spin interaction between the electron and proton, with dephasing incorporated through local Lindblad operators. Analytical solutions for the time-dependent density matrix are derived for various initial states, including separable, partially entangled, and maximally entangled configurations. Entanglement is quantified using the concurrence, while fidelity measures the similarity between the evolving state and the initial state. Numerical results demonstrate that entanglement exhibits oscillatory decay modulated by the dephasing rate, with anti-parallel spin states displaying greater robustness compared to parallel configurations, often leading to entanglement sudden death. Fidelity dynamics reveal similar damped oscillations, underscoring the interplay between coherent hyperfine evolution and environmental dephasing. These insights elucidate strategies for preserving quantum correlations in atomic systems, with implications for quantum information processing and metrology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Communication and Quantum Information)
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34 pages, 1302 KB  
Article
Integrated Information in Relational Quantum Dynamics (RQD)
by Arash Zaghi
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7521; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137521 - 4 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1984
Abstract
We introduce a quantum integrated-information measure Φ for multipartite states within the Relational Quantum Dynamics (RQD) framework. Φ(ρ) is defined as the minimum quantum Jensen–Shannon distance between an n-partite density operator ρ and any product state over a bipartition of [...] Read more.
We introduce a quantum integrated-information measure Φ for multipartite states within the Relational Quantum Dynamics (RQD) framework. Φ(ρ) is defined as the minimum quantum Jensen–Shannon distance between an n-partite density operator ρ and any product state over a bipartition of its subsystems. We prove that its square root induces a genuine metric on state space and that Φ is monotonic under all completely positive trace-preserving maps. Restricting the search to bipartitions yields a unique optimal split and a unique closest product state. From this geometric picture, we derive a canonical entanglement witness directly tied to Φ and construct an integration dendrogram that reveals the full hierarchical correlation structure of ρ. We further show that there always exists an “optimal observer”—a channel or basis—that preserves Φ better than any alternative. Finally, we propose a quantum Markov blanket theorem: the boundary of the optimal bipartition isolates subsystems most effectively. Our framework unites categorical enrichment, convex-geometric methods, and operational tools, forging a concrete bridge between integrated information theory and quantum information science. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Communication and Quantum Information)
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