| B92 | |
|---|---|
| Name | B92 |
| Native name | B92 |
| Founded | 1990s |
| Headquarters | Belgrade |
| Fields | Quantum Physics; Quantum information |
| Key people | Miloš Popović; Jelena Marković |
| Known for | Quantum communication protocols; experimental platforms |
B92
B92 is an interdisciplinary research initiative and platform originating from Belgrade that connects experimental groups, universities, and industry to advance aspects of quantum information science and applied quantum physics. While sharing its name with historical media institutions, this B92 is notable in the scientific context for coordinating research on quantum communication, quantum measurement and small-scale quantum technologies that matter for national scientific capacity and technological sovereignty. It functions as a node linking regional expertise to large international projects and laboratories.
B92 operates at the intersection of quantum communication, quantum computation, and precision quantum metrology, emphasizing pragmatic development of devices and protocols that can be integrated into national research infrastructures. Its relevance arises from fostering collaboration among the University of Belgrade, regional research institutes, and partners at institutions such as CERN and Max Planck Society laboratories. B92 contributes to workforce development, standards for quantum-safe communications, and localized implementations of protocols like quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum random number generation that underpin secure information systems and national resilience.
The program traces its roots to scientific networks formed in the late 1990s and early 2000s in the Balkans, with early collaborators drawn from the Vinča Nuclear Institute, the University of Belgrade Faculty of Physics, and diaspora scientists trained at Imperial College London and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Initial projects focused on photon-pair sources and single-photon detectors, influenced by foundational experiments by researchers at Bell Labs and the Institute of Physics (IOP). Over successive EU framework programmes and bilateral grants, B92 expanded into working groups addressing both theory and implementation, linking to European research infrastructures such as the European Research Council-funded consortia and the European Space Agency for satellite QKD feasibility studies.
B92's technical portfolio covers optical quantum systems (entangled photon sources, spontaneous parametric down-conversion), superconducting detectors, and control electronics for quantum experiments. The platform maintains capability in cryogenic techniques associated with superconducting qubits and microwave engineering used in circuit quantum electrodynamics pioneered at institutions like Yale University and University of California, Berkeley. It also develops custom firmware and classical post-processing stacks for QKD compliant with standards from bodies such as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. B92 labs typically use instrumentation from vendors like ID Quantique and Thorlabs, while implementing open-source control frameworks derived from the Qiskit and Cirq communities.
B92 has supported applied projects in secure communications for government and critical infrastructure, experimental demonstrations of entanglement distribution over metropolitan fiber, and development of quantum sensors for precision timing and metrology. Collaborations include applied research with national telecommunications providers and defense research agencies to explore quantum-resistant cryptography and hybrid classical–quantum networks. The initiative also contributes to educational programs preparing students for careers at companies such as IBM Quantum and Google Quantum AI, and for roles within national laboratories like Rutherford Appleton Laboratory or regional equivalents.
Research connected to B92 builds on theoretical frameworks from quantum information theory, including models of decoherence, error correction, and entanglement theory developed by researchers such as Charles H. Bennett, John Preskill, and Peter Shor. Specific work emphasizes security proofs for QKD protocols, finite-key analysis, and device-independent approaches inspired by tests of Bell's theorem and nonlocality. Mathematical tools used include density matrix formalism, quantum channel capacities, and semidefinite programming for device characterization and certification. The theoretical group maintains links to published literature in journals like Physical Review Letters and Nature Physics.
B92 experimental efforts include metropolitan QKD trials over installed fiber in Belgrade, laboratory demonstrations of entanglement swapping and quantum teleportation adapted from landmark experiments at University of Geneva and University of Innsbruck, and comparative studies of single-photon detectors (avalanche photodiodes versus superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors). Case studies document integration challenges when linking quantum links to classical infrastructure, error budgets in real-world deployments, and interoperability testing with heterogeneous hardware. Results have been presented at conferences such as the Quantum Information Processing (QIP) and the European Quantum Technology Conference.
Work under B92 explicitly addresses dual-use concerns inherent in quantum technologies: while QKD enhances secure communications for civil society and commerce, advances in quantum computing threaten existing cryptographic systems. The initiative engages policymakers, standards bodies, and defence stakeholders to craft measured strategies that protect national infrastructure, preserve civil liberties, and foster technological independence. Ethical oversight reviews deployment scenarios, ensuring alignment with societal values and international norms promoted by organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for responsible innovation.
Category:Quantum information science Category:Research institutes in Serbia