Optical networking for quantum key distribution and quantum communications

Chapuran, T.E.; Toliver, P.; Peters, Nicholas A.; Jackel, J.; Goodman, M.S.; Runser, R.J.; McNown, S.; Dallmann, Nicholas; Hughes, Richard; McCabe, Kevin; Nordholt, J. E.; Peterson, C. G.; Tyagi, K.; Mercer, L.; Dardy, H. D.

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/11/10/105001

Cited by 206 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Apart from the long-term goal of QKD operation on public DWDM networks, investigated in [8], another frequently encountered network topology could push forward QKD availability in the short-term. In order to accommodate future growth, telecom companies have spent the 3 last few years installing point-to-point dedicated fibres [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum key distribution and 1 Gbps data encryption over a single fibre

et al. 2010

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum key distribution and 1 Gbps data encryption over a single fibre

et al. 2010

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“…In first experimental demonstrations, weak coherent pulses at the single photon power level in the telecom O-band (1260 -1360 nm) were multiplexed with a common data channel in the C-band and sent via several kilometers of installed fiber [10] with an acceptable error rate of the quantum channel. The dominant noise source in that scheme is anti-Stokes Raman scattering of the strong classical pulses into the quantum channel [11]. Furthermore, it is also possible to transmit the O-band photons through a fiber link equipped with active erbium amplifiers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single telecom photon heralding by wavelength multiplexing in an optical fiber

et al. 2016

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We demonstrate the multiplexing of a classical coherent and a quantum state of light in a single telecommunciation fiber. For this purpose we make use of spontaneous parametric down conversion and quantum frequency conversion to generate photon pairs at 854 nm and the telecom O-band. The herald photon triggers a telecom C-band laser pulse. The telecom single photon and the laser pulse are combined and coupled to a standard telecom fiber. Low background time correlation of the classical and quantum signal behind the fiber shows successful telecommunication channel multiplexing.

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“…While point-to-point connections are suitable to form a backbone quantum core network to bridge long distances, they are less suitable to provide the last-mile service needed to give a multitude of users access to this QKD infrastructure. Reconfigurable optical networks based on optical switches or wavelength-division multiplexing have been suggested to achieve more flexible network structures [3,[9][10][11][12], however, they also require the installation of a full QKD system per user, which is prohibitively expensive for many applications.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A quantum access network

Fröhlich

Dynes

Lucamarini

et al. 2013

Nature

268

219

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The theoretically proven security of quantum key distribution (QKD) could revolutionise how information exchange is protected in the future [1,2]. Several field tests of QKD have proven it to be a reliable technology for cryptographic key exchange and have demonstrated nodal networks of point-to-point links [3][4][5]. However, so far no convincing answer has been given to the question of how to extend the scope of QKD beyond niche applications in dedicated high security networks. Here we show that adopting simple and cost-effective telecommunication technologies to form a quantum access network can greatly expand the number of users in quantum networks and therefore vastly broaden their appeal. We are able to demonstrate that a high-speed single-photon detector positioned at a network node can be shared between up to 64 users for exchanging secret keys with the node, thereby significantly reducing the hardware requirements for each user added to the network. This point-to-multipoint architecture removes one of the main obstacles restricting the widespread application of QKD. It presents a viable method for realising multi-user QKD networks with resource efficiency and brings QKD closer to becoming the first widespread technology based on quantum physics.In a nodal QKD network multiple trusted repeaters are connected via point-to-point links between a quantum transmitter (Alice) and a quantum receiver (Bob). These point-to-point links can be realised with long-distance optical fibres, and in the future might even utilize ground to satellite communication [6][7][8]. While point-to-point connections are suitable to form a backbone quantum core network to bridge long distances, they are less suitable to provide the last-mile service needed to give a multitude of users access to this QKD infrastructure. Reconfigurable optical networks based on optical switches or wavelength-division multiplexing have been suggested to achieve more flexible network structures[3, 9-12], however, they also require the installation of a full QKD system per user, which is prohibitively expensive for many applications.Giving a multitude of users access to the nodal QKD network requires point-to-multipoint connections. In modern fibre-optic networks point-to-multipoint connections are often realized passively using components such as optical power splitters [13]. Single photon QKD with the sender positioned at the network node and the receiver at the user premises[14] lends itself naturally to a passive multi-user network (see Fig. 1a). However, this downstream implementation has two major shortcomings. Firstly, every user in the network requires a single photon detector, which are often expensive and difficult to operate. And secondly, it is not possible to deterministically address a user. All detectors therefore have to operate at the same speed as the transmitter in order not to miss photons, which means most of the detector bandwidth is unused.Here, we show that both problems associated with a downstream implementation can be overcome ...

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Optical networking for quantum key distribution and quantum communications

Cited by 206 publications

References 26 publications

Quantum key distribution and 1 Gbps data encryption over a single fibre

Quantum key distribution and 1 Gbps data encryption over a single fibre

Single telecom photon heralding by wavelength multiplexing in an optical fiber

A quantum access network

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