ABSTRACT
Quantum key distribution (QKD) using polarisation encoding can be hard to implement over deployed telecom fibres because the routing geometry and the birefringence of the fibre link can alter the polarisation states of the propagating photons. These alterations cause a basis mismatch, leading to an increased quantum bit error rate (QBER). In this work we demonstrate a technique for a dynamically compensating fibre-induced state alteration in a QKD system. This compensation scheme includes a feedback loop that minimizes the QBER using a stochastic optimization algorithm. The effectiveness of this technique is implemented and verified in a polarisation entanglement QKD system over a deployed telecom fibre.
ABSTRACT
Quantum key distribution (QKD) at telecom wavelengths (1260 - 1625 nm) has the potential for fast deployment due to existing optical fibre infrastructure and mature telecom technologies. At these wavelengths, Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) avalanche photodiode (APD) based detectors are the preferred choice for photon detection. Similar to their Silicon counterparts used at shorter wavelengths, they exhibit fluorescence from recombination of electron-hole pairs generated in the avalanche breakdown process. This fluorescence may open side channels for attacks on QKD systems. Here, we characterize the breakdown fluorescence from two commercial InGaAs single photon counting modules, and find a spectral distribution between 1000 nm and 1600 nm. We also show that by spectral filtering, this side channel can be efficiently suppressed.
ABSTRACT
We present an experimental test of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt Bell inequality on photon pairs in a maximally entangled state of polarization in which a value S=2.82759±0.00051 is observed. This value comes close to the Tsirelson bound of |S|≤2sqrt[2], with S-2sqrt[2]=0.00084±0.00051. It also violates the bound |S|≤2.82537 introduced by Grinbaum by 4.3 standard deviations. This violation allows us to exclude that quantum mechanics is only an effective description of a more fundamental theory.