Free-space quantum cryptography in daylight

Richard J. Hughes; William T. Buttler; Paul G. Kwiat; Steve K. Lamoreaux; George L. Morgan; Jane E. Nordholt; C. Glen Peterson

doi:10.1117/12.384303

2 May 2000 Free-space quantum cryptography in daylight

Richard J. Hughes, William T. Buttler, Paul G. Kwiat, Steve K. Lamoreaux, George L. Morgan, Jane E. Nordholt, C. Glen Peterson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3932, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XII; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.384303
Event: Symposium on High-Power Lasers and Applications, 2000, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and the most recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed on orbit. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.

Citation Download Citation

Richard J. Hughes, William T. Buttler, Paul G. Kwiat, Steve K. Lamoreaux, George L. Morgan, Jane E. Nordholt, and C. Glen Peterson "Free-space quantum cryptography in daylight", Proc. SPIE 3932, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XII, (2 May 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.384303

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