Mitigating pointing requirements and turbulence effects in free-space quantum key distribution

Mark Bashkansky; William S. Rabinovich; Rita Mahon; Mike S. Ferraro; Peter G. Goetz; J. Reintjes

doi:10.1117/12.2304456

14 May 2018 Mitigating pointing requirements and turbulence effects in free-space quantum key distribution

Mark Bashkansky, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Mike S. Ferraro, Peter G. Goetz, J. Reintjes

Proceedings Volume 10660, Quantum Information Science, Sensing, and Computation X; 1066008 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304456
Event: SPIE Commercial + Scientific Sensing and Imaging, 2018, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

With the development of quantum computers, that can break current classical encryption schemes, unconditionally secure quantum key distribution (QKD) will become very important. Current fiber-based QKD implementations are limited to a few hundred kilometers due to optical losses in fiber and cannot be used with mobile platforms. A free space QKD system has recently been demonstrated over very large distances using entangled photons. However, due to the extremely high pointing accuracy required, the implementation of this QKD approach is very challenging and power demanding. Here we describe a new type of QKD link that uses modulating retro-reflectors. Our approach reduces pointing requirements by orders of magnitude, allowing an increase in pointing tolerance from microradians to tens of milliradians. Additionally, it reduces power requirements on the moving platform and has potential of reducing some influence of turbulence on the secure key distribution rate. Our approach relies on new, high extinction surface-normal multiple quantum well modulators with a maximum modulation rate of 100 MHz. We report on a BB84 QKD link using our system in the laboratory.

Citation Download Citation

Mark Bashkansky, William S. Rabinovich, Rita Mahon, Mike S. Ferraro, Peter G. Goetz, and J. Reintjes "Mitigating pointing requirements and turbulence effects in free-space quantum key distribution", Proc. SPIE 10660, Quantum Information Science, Sensing, and Computation X, 1066008 (14 May 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304456

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Photons

Quantum key distribution

Turbulence

Polarization

Receivers

Satellites

Beam splitters

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years