Abstract

Polarization-encoded free-space quantum communication requires a quantum state source featuring fast modulation, long-term stability, and a low intrinsic error rate. Here we present a polarization encoder that, contrary to previous solutions, generates predetermined polarization states with a fixed reference frame in free-space. The proposed device does not require calibration either at the transmitter or at the receiver and achieves long-term stability. A proof-of-concept experiment is also reported, demonstrating a quantum bit error rate lower than 0.2% for several hours without any active recalibration.

© 2020 Optical Society of America

All-fiber self-compensating polarization encoder for quantum key distribution

Costantino Agnesi, Marco Avesani, Andrea Stanco, Paolo Villoresi, and Giuseppe Vallone
Opt. Lett. 44(10) 2398-2401 (2019)

Field demonstration of time-bin reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution via an intracity free-space link

Huan Chen, Jipeng Wang, Bangying Tang, Zhenhua Li, Bo Liu, and Shihai Sun
Opt. Lett. 45(11) 3022-3025 (2020)

Simple quantum key distribution with qubit-based synchronization and a self-compensating polarization encoder

Costantino Agnesi, Marco Avesani, Luca Calderaro, Andrea Stanco, Giulio Foletto, Mujtaba Zahidy, Alessia Scriminich, Francesco Vedovato, Giuseppe Vallone, and Paolo Villoresi
Optica 7(4) 284-290 (2020)

Resource-effective quantum key distribution: a field trial in Padua city center

Marco Avesani, Luca Calderaro, Giulio Foletto, Costantino Agnesi, Francesco Picciariello, Francesco B. L. Santagiustina, Alessia Scriminich, Andrea Stanco, Francesco Vedovato, Mujtaba Zahidy, Giuseppe Vallone, and Paolo Villoresi
Opt. Lett. 46(12) 2848-2851 (2021)

High-speed robust polarization modulation for quantum key distribution

Yang Li, Yu-Huai Li, Hong-Bo Xie, Zheng-Ping Li, Xiao Jiang, Wen-Qi Cai, Ji-Gang Ren, Juan Yin, Sheng-Kai Liao, and Cheng-Zhi Peng
Opt. Lett. 44(21) 5262-5265 (2019)