Quantum key distribution over scattering channel

Abstract

Scattering of light by cloud, haze, and fog decreases the transmission efficiency of communication channels in quantum key distribution (QKD), reduces the system's practical security, and thus constrains the deployment of free-space QKD. Here, we employ the wavefront shaping technology to compensate distorted optical signals in high-loss scattering quantum channels and fulfill a polarization-encoded BB84 QKD experiment. With this quantum channel compensation technology, we achieve a typical enhancement of about 250 in transmission efficiency and improve the secure key rate from 0 to $1.85\times 10^{-6}$ per sifted key. The method and its first time validation show the great potential to expand the territory of QKD systems from lossless channels to highly scattered ones and therefore enhances the deployment ability of global quantum communication network.

8 Pages, 5 Figures and comments are welcome

References in corpus (7)

• Satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution
• Progress in satellite quantum key distribution
• Field and long-term demonstration of a wide area quantum key distribution network
• Measuring optical transmission matrices by wavefront shaping
• Free-space quantum links under diverse weather conditions
• Studying Free-Space Transmission Statistics and Improving Free-Space QKD in the Turbulent Atmosphere
• Experimental decoy state BB84 quantum key distribution through a turbulent channel

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Mitigating scattering in a quantum system using only an integrating sphere