Investigating absorption and scattering effects of turbulent atmosphere on entangled photon pairs propagating through free-space

Vijit Bedi; Vladimir Nikulin; Kathy-Anne Soderberg; Paul Alsing; Laura A. Wessing; John E. Malowicki; Peter A. Ricci; John W. Heinig; William F. Lipe

doi:10.1117/12.2632039

4 October 2022 Investigating absorption and scattering effects of turbulent atmosphere on entangled photon pairs propagating through free-space

Vijit Bedi, Vladimir Nikulin, Kathy-Anne Soderberg, Paul Alsing, Laura A. Wessing, John E. Malowicki, Peter A. Ricci, John W. Heinig, William F. Lipe

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12238, Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging XX; 122380D (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2632039
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2022, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Quantum entanglement is critical to build the backbone of all quantum technologies. Quantum networks, quantum computations, and quantum communication networking is based on long-range distribution of entangled photons and teleportation of photon qubit states. In order to understand quantum entanglement, characterization of atmospheric turbulence and its effects on propagating quantum states in free-space is essential. One method of photon entanglement is using a photon’s polarization. In this paper, we report results using polarization entangled signal and idler photons. The results may be applicable to support various quantum computing, encryption, and other qubit based high-performance communication protocols. Classically, the degradation of beam quality occurs due to many factors but primarily due to the distortion of spatial and temporal fields of refractive index. However, behavior of single photons through similar turbulent media creates a different set of challenges pointing to integrity of quantum states during propagation. We study this behavior by analyzing quantum states and the degree of entanglement in real-time and correlating it to known atmospheric models, (refractive index structure parameter), and relevant propagation path parameters. This experimental study was performed initially in a controlled laboratory environment, and then devised to be implemented outdoors over a 100-meter free space communication link.

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Vijit Bedi, Vladimir Nikulin, Kathy-Anne Soderberg, Paul Alsing, Laura A. Wessing, John E. Malowicki, Peter A. Ricci, John W. Heinig, and William F. Lipe "Investigating absorption and scattering effects of turbulent atmosphere on entangled photon pairs propagating through free-space", Proc. SPIE 12238, Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging XX, 122380D (4 October 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2632039

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