Testing of the Entangled QKD System EPR S405 Quelle (AIT) in Commercial 1550 nm Fiber Network

Abstract

In this communication, we report results of running tests on standard telecommunication metropolitan network 1550 nm fiber applied to a quantum channel to EPR S405 Quelle prototype systems installed in National Laboratory for Quantum Technologies WUT and in CompSecur Wroclaw. Testing was carried out by means of the original design by us and applied special data card collecting parameters of functioning system allowing for assessment of quality of quantum channel. We have performed several trials using various configurations of standard 1550 nm fiber patch-cord up to length of 6.5 km with additional usage of various patch-cords with weldings and connectors which typically present in already installed commercial metropolitan communication networks. The implementation of this testing indicated that the rigorous maintenance of photon polarization is required for quantum information exchange upon EPR S405 Quelle functioning. The polarization of optical signal turned out to be, however, very unstable for the tested connection which resulted in very rapid QBER rise precluding practical usefulness of this connection for secure quantum exchange of cryptographic key over practically significant distances. We have identified that the main obstacle was the polarization decoherence caused by weldings and connectors in standard patch-cords and accidental strains in fibers as well as generally poor transmitting properties of 1550 nm fiber for much shorter wavelength photons used by the Quelle system. To maintain the quantum channel active, very frequent manual corrections of polarization control were required. So we expect that by design and application of an automatic polarization control module, one would stabilize visibility ratio and lower QBER to an acceptable level conditioning possible future implementation of entangled QKD system in commercial networks.