Complete experimental toolbox for alignment-free quantum communication
arXiv:1203.6417 · doi:10.1038/ncomms1951
Abstract
Quantum communication employs the counter-intuitive features of quantum physics to perform tasks that are im- possible in the classical world. It is crucial for testing the foundations of quantum theory and promises to rev- olutionize our information and communication technolo- gies. However, for two or more parties to execute even the simplest quantum transmission, they must establish, and maintain, a shared reference frame. This introduces a considerable overhead in communication resources, par- ticularly if the parties are in motion or rotating relative to each other. We experimentally demonstrate how to circumvent this problem with the efficient transmission of quantum information encoded in rotationally invariant states of single photons. By developing a complete toolbox for the efficient encoding and decoding of quantum infor- mation in such photonic qubits, we demonstrate the fea- sibility of alignment-free quantum key-distribution, and perform a proof-of-principle alignment-free entanglement distribution and violation of a Bell inequality. Our scheme should find applications in fundamental tests of quantum mechanics and satellite-based quantum communication.
Main manuscript: 7 pages, 3 figures; Supplementary Information: 7 pages, 3 figures
References in corpus (11)
- Optical spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in inhomogeneous anisotropic media
- Free-Space distribution of entanglement and single photons over 144 km
- Reference frames, superselection rules, and quantum information
- Optimal quantum cloning of orbital angular momentum photon qubits via Hong-Ou-Mandel coalescence
- Experimental verification of the feasibility of a quantum channel between Space and Earth
- Quantum communication without alignment using multiple-qubit single-photon states
- Experimental optimal cloning of four-dimensional quantum states of photons
- Experimental generation and characterization of single-photon hybrid ququarts based on polarization-orbital angular momentum encoding
- Experimental Quantum Communication without a Shared Reference Frame
- How to create and detect N-dimensional entangled photons with an active phase hologram
- Resilience of orbital angular momentum qubits and effects on hybrid entanglement