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Building the Quantum Highway: Why Defense and Space Need Free-Space Optics Today for the Quantum Tomorrow
July 23, 2026 - 12:00 PM
ABOUT
Defense and space missions are moving toward a future where quantum-secure communications will be essential—and free-space optics (FSO) is the critical technology that connects today’s capabilities for the quantum tomorrow. This webinar examines the current FSO performance, operational challenges, and how today’s optical infrastructure accelerates the transition to next‑generation quantum systems.
OBJECTIVES
- Provide a technical overview of current free-space optical (FSO) communication performance, including bandwidth, link stability, and security characteristics relevant to defense and space missions.
- Examine the operational challenges associated with deploying FSO across terrestrial, airborne, and space environments—such as atmospheric interference, pointing and tracking precision, and system integration constraints.
- Demonstrate how today’s optical communication infrastructure establishes the foundation for next‑generation quantum systems, enabling a smoother transition to quantum-secure and quantum‑enabled architectures.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- FSO is a mission-critical technology that enhances secure, high‑capacity communications while enabling the migration toward quantum networking.
- Building FSO infrastructure today creates a scalable pathway for future quantum communication, including quantum key distribution and entanglement-based links.
- Cross‑sector collaboration is essential to accelerate development of the “quantum highway,” integrating today’s optical systems with the quantum technologies of tomorrow.
SPEAKER
Emily Fehrman Cory, Ph.D., CEO & Co-FounderDayton Photonics, leads the commercialization of THEIA, a fiberless optical communication system designed to transform how broadband infrastructure is deployed around the world. Our vision is to enable reliable, high-speed connectivity in places where traditional fiber is impractical, unavailable, or too slow to deploy. With a Ph.D. in Electro-Optics and deep experience in technology transition and commercialization, Fehrman Cory works at the intersection of advanced photonics, market strategy, and real-world deployment. Her focus is on moving breakthrough technology out of the lab and into scalable, operational networks that address critical connectivity gaps across rural, remote, and high-impact environments.