Classical error correction techniques are not valid for more advanced systems, with quantum technology, which present scenarios with higher failure rates.
In this context, a team from the University of Alicante (UA), the GAdUA group (Grup d'Àlgebra de la Universitat d'Alacant), is leading a line of research to increase the reliability and efficiency of communications between quantum machines. The objective is clear: to develop the theory and practical implementation of quantum error correction methods that robustly protect information, even under particularly demanding conditions.
The NCCC project (New Constructions of Subspace and Convolutional Quantum Codes) is part of the Valencian Community's Quantum Communication Plan, in which four Valencian universities participate, and in which the UA is working on a proposal that starts from the observation that new generation systems do not allow information to be replicated as in traditional schemes, so the way to protect it needs to be rethought.
Scientific literature has already demonstrated that, in the context of quantum communication, it is possible to "divide" data into several parts and safeguard its content through structured entanglement; the first major step was marked by the approach of the American professor Peter Shor Williston, which inspired later developments towards more complex codes.
The GAdUA research team is currently working on adapting two families of codes with great potential to the quantum context: subspace codes and convolutional codes. Both have proven effective in classical communications, but their complex algebraic structure has limited their application to quantum scenarios. The GAdUA group at the University of Alicante proposes to address this gap: to study their theory in depth and design new strategies that translate this potential into tangible improvements in data reliability and integrity when data travels through a quantum channel.
“We’re talking about protecting quantum information,” explained Diego Napp, the project’s principal investigator. “If we intelligently design data protection before sending it, we can correct many quantum errors that occur in these channels, and thus offer guarantees in the quantum communications that companies, government agencies, and research centers demand today.”.
The practical implications are broad. Improving the robustness of communications impacts critical areas: from digital services requiring continuity and security, to distributed scientific and technical collaborations and industrial applications where a loss of integrity results in costs and delays. In practice, this translates into greater trust, fewer retransmissions, and reduced resource consumption to achieve the same quality of service.
“Our goal is for reliability to move from being an aspiration to an operational standard,” emphasized Xaro Soler, the project's principal investigator. “With transferable solutions, we're taking a step towards ensuring that the technology works whenever needed, without requiring specialized knowledge from the user.”.
Quantum research with an Alicante stamp
This project is one of eleven that make up the Quantum Communication Plan, led by four prestigious universities: the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), the University of Valencia (UV), the University of Alicante (UA), and the CEU Cardenal Herrera University (CEU-UCH). Together, these initiatives encompass a wide range of research and development lines with the aim of promoting quantum technology and its applications in strategic areas such as telecommunications and cybersecurity, thus consolidating the Valencian Community as a benchmark for technological innovation at the national and international levels.
In this specific case, the research group at the University of Alicante—an institution created in 1979 based on the historic University Studies Center (1968)—is reaffirming the vocation of a university with roots dating back to 1834. Throughout its history, the UA has established itself as a leader in university outreach, culture, and internationalization, with a clear focus on knowledge transfer and engagement with the local community. This line of research fully reflects that vocation: to provide real solutions with social and economic impact.
