Entanglement Distribution Between Low-SWaP Mobile Platforms

Quantum networking applications are growing rapidly (e.g., distributed blind computing, entanglement purification, quantum sensors, quantum key distribution (QKD)). While we race to accommodate all these applications on existing quantum networks, it is important to also continue to expand these networks to include diverse multi-nodal channels in order to achieve a global secure quantum network. There currently exist many fiber-based and free-space fixed nodes, as well as several large mobile high-altitude nodes (e.g., satellites, planes, weather balloons). However, the niche of rapidly deployable low size, weight, and power (SWaP) nodes has not yet had much development. We aim to fill this niche by engineering low-swap rapidly deployable mobile platforms that support entanglement distribution. We have previously demonstrated the first finite-key secured drone and vehicle QKD links and will now present progress towards establishing a similar link capable of distributing entanglement up to rates of 1.5 kbit/s between both drone and vehicle nodes. We will further discuss efforts to increase node separation distance and day-time operation.