Bridging the gaps in quantum communication

At Worcester State, the future of the internet isn’t just being studied in textbooks—it’s being built by students and alumni. 

Working alongside Dr. Weichu (Brian) Xu, Associate Professor of Chemistry, brothers Joshua Fung-A-Fat ’23, MS ’24 and Daniel Fung-A-Fat ’25 are helping to lead a “rare-earth revolution” that could change how the entire world communicates. 

Their work is key to building a “quantum internet,” defined, in the simplest of terms, as a network of highly advanced, incredibly fast computers that are physically impossible to hack. For years, scientists have struggled to create such a secure network, because the quantum information these computers transfer is incredibly fragile; in most materials, data disappears in a tiny fraction of a second.

However, the team, which included researchers from UMass Chan Medical School, discovered that a special group of rare-earth elements called lanthanides acts as a “secret sauce.” These elements have specific electrons tucked deep inside the atom, protected by outer layers that act like built-in noise-canceling headphones. While typical materials might hold onto a signal for only a thousandth of a second or so, these lanthanides can store information for up to six hours.

This massive leap forward means we could eventually move data, securely, over long distances. Most importantly, one specific lanthanide called erbium works with the fiber-optic cables already buried under our streets. Instead of digging up every road to build a new system, Dr. Xu and his students are showing how we can simply upgrade the highways of the internet we use today.

“Collaborating on this project with Dr. Xu and Joshua was an incredible experience; both were instrumental to my growth as a scientist,” said Daniel, who now serves as a laboratory technician at Quinsigamond Community College. “The skills I gained—from conducting rigorous literature reviews to managing experimental variables—have fundamentally shaped my approach to the ‘why’ behind every step of the process.”

The two brothers each brought unique skills and specialties to the research. 

Daniel spent last summer supported by an Undergraduate Summer Research Grant building “light translators.” These tiny nanoparticles catch invisible laser light and turn it into visible colors. 

Joshua is a researcher at UMass Chan Medical School, whose expertise in material fabrication proved vital to the project’s success. Since joining UMass Chan in 2022, Joshua has focused on the synthesis of silica-based nanoparticles and the investigation of alternative polymerization methods. By bridging the gap between technical chemical synthesis and functional application, Joshua helped provide the physical framework necessary for the team’s “light translators” to function.

This world-class research was recently published in the prestigious journal Advanced Functional Materials. The team reached a milestone most scientists don’t hit until much later in their careers: co-authoring a professional paper shared with global experts. And opportunities like these “drive student retention and success,” according to Linda Larrivee, dean of the School of Science. 

“Mentors like Dr. Xu provide the experiential learning and personal guidance necessary for our students to excel in graduate school and the global workforce,” she said.

Meanwhile, the road to a perfect quantum internet is still long, but the work done by Dr. Xu, Joshua, and Daniel is helping remove one of the biggest hurdles. By finding a material that is stable and compatible with current technology, they have provided a blueprint for the future of the web. As Dr. Xu put it, “The pieces are coming together.”

Meanwhile, the road to a perfect quantum internet is still long. But by finding a material that is stable and compatible with current technology, Dr. Xu, Joshua, and Daniel have provided a blueprint for the future of the web. As Dr. Xu put it, “The pieces are coming together.”