Optical and Quantum Communications (OQC) Laboratory was founded in order to cope with the cutting edge technologies --- optical and quantum communications. It has been growing to become a Thailand’s major frontier laboratory that makes the effort to conduct R&D on these areas which are regarded as a promising topic to support people demand in the age of information. Indeed, the optical and quantum communication is expected to be one of the key solution of technologies for the future. Practically, one of them which is likely to be realized in the near future is “quantum cryptography”.  This lab is a part of NECTEC, several projects have been conducted to achieve its missions in “security technologies platform”.  Presently, OQC lab aims at developing a system of quantum cryptography which is regarded as absoluted secure communication by using of the law of quantum physics.  The main challenges of this project are the practical implementation of those quantum properties as well as the difficulty of transmitting information through noisy and lossy quantum communication channels. In addition, the OQC lab has been also putting the effort to survey and to follow the world's trend and forecast in other quantum related fields, quantum computing. Development on random number generator/randomness testing service, error control coding for next generation mobile communications and hard disk drive applications, as well as free-space optical communications, are also focusing.

Apart from conducting research and development projects, other responsible includes technology transfer, training, and working for national and international collaboration among academia and public sectors. There are research collaboration between OQC lab and national/international research organization company and academia such as Thamasat university, Mahidol university, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, and Thailand Center of Excellence in Physics. OQC members consist of researchers, graduate students, interns, and partners from collaborated universities.

1. Vision :

Focusing on R&D and human resource development in order to drive both basic research and application of optical and quantum communications for academia and industries.

2. Medium Term Goals :

• To implement Thailand’s first quantum cryptography/testbed
• To achieve intellectual properties (IP-Core) of error control coding for application in wireless communications hard disk drive platform and etc.
• To set up random number generator and randomness testing services
• To retrieve a prototype of free-space optical communications

3. Mission :

• To promote a strong research collaboration with Thai Quantum Information (Q-Ti) forum and other national and international partners
• To support academic, education, and human resource development in the area of optical & quantum communications in Thailand through Q-Ti forum collaboration
• To develop new challenge concept, design, and simulation, through the prototype of future quantum cryptography and light wave communications systems.

Current Research Topics

• Quantum cryptography systems

Quantum cryptography has attracted much scientists attention due to its potential for providing absolute secret communications that cannot be broken by any amount of computational effort. The project aims at investigation and development on the prototype quantum cryptography system and set up Thailand quantum cryptography testbed.

• Random Number Generator and Randomness Testing Service

This project provides a generator of random number on internet network, web service, as well as a service for its randomness testing.  Its applications are for R&D, (electronic equipment) burst test, data encryption, random sampling, simulation and modeling, etc.

• Error Control Coding for Next Generation Mobile Communications and Hard Disk Systems

Error control coding technology is a major part in all modern communication systems as in communication-like systems such as wireless communications and magnetic recording system, including quantum cryptography. The project aims at research and development on applications of error control coding (turbo codes & LDPC). The outputs is an Intellectual Property core for related application platforms.

• Free Space-Optical Communications

Free space-optical communications is considered as an efficient communications for high speed data transmission. This area is another goal for Optical & Quantum Communication laboratory. Prototype of indoor white light communications and ultraviolet communications are being focused.

Achievements

Prototypes

Prototypes related to Thai Quantum Cryptography Testbed,  QKD Software, Random Number Generator and Randomness Testing Service, LDPC Codes-Simulation Software, etc.

Patents and Publications

Publications in peer-review journal, patents pending, and many conference papers, are listed

Books

• “A Brief History of Communications (Thai version) ”, IEEE Communications Society, August 2008 .
• “Turbo Codes Applications; a journey from a paper to realization”, October 2005 (Springer publisher).
• “Nano Technology, The Challenge of Thailand (Chapter: Introduction to Quantum Cryptography)(Thai)”, March 2005 .
• “A Brief history of Turbo Code (Thai)”, NECTEC, January 2005.

Web Site

http://www.nectec.or.th/OQC/

Contact :

Optical and Quantum Communications Laboratory

National Electronics and Computer Technology Center

112 Thailand Science Park, Phahon Yothin Rd., Klong 1, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120

Tel: +66 (0) 2564 6900 Ext. 2591-3               Fax: +66 (0) 2564 6769.

E-Mail : keattisak Dot sripimanwat At nectec Dot or Dot th