Experimental polarization encoded quantum key distribution over optical fibres with real-time continuous birefringence compensation

Xavier, G. B.; Walenta, Nino; Vilela de Faria, G.; Temporão, G. P.; Gisin, Nicolas; Zbinden, Hugo; Von Der Weid, Jean-Pierre

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/045015

Scientific article

English

Experimental polarization encoded quantum key distribution over optical fibres with real-time continuous birefringence compensation

Contributors

Xavier, G. B.; Walenta, Nino; Vilela de Faria, G.; Temporão, G. P.; Gisin, Nicolas; Zbinden, Hugo

; Von Der Weid, Jean-Pierre

Published in

New journal of physics, vol. 11, no. 4, 045015

Publication date

2009

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate an active polarization drift compensation scheme for optical fibres employed in a quantum key distribution experiment with polarization encoded qubits. The quantum signals are wavelength multiplexed in one fibre along with two classical optical side channels that provide the control information for the polarization compensation scheme. This set-up allows us to continuously track any polarization change without the need to interrupt the key exchange. The results obtained show that fast polarization rotations of the order of 40π rad s–1 are effectively compensated for. We demonstrate that our set-up allows continuous quantum key distribution even in a fibre stressed by random polarization fluctuations. Our results pave the way for Bell-state measurements using only linear optics with parties separated by long-distance optical fibres.

UNIGE affiliation entities

Faculté des sciences / Section de physique / Groupe de physique appliquée

Citation (ISO format)

XAVIER, G. B. et al. Experimental polarization encoded quantum key distribution over optical fibres with real-time continuous birefringence compensation. In: New journal of physics, 2009, vol. 11, n° 4, p. 045015. doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/045015

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

PID : unige:36621
DOI : 10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/045015

Additional URL for this publication

http://stacks.iop.org/1367-2630/11/i=4/a=045015?key=crossref.46131edaaa70fe595ff38d25eb8212be

Journal ISSN

1367-2630

671views

496downloads

Creation

13/05/2014 15:29:00

First validation

13/05/2014 15:29:00

Update

14/03/2023 21:13:52

Status update

14/03/2023 21:13:52

Last indexation

30/10/2024 17:14:53

Experimental polarization encoded quantum key distribution over optical fibres with real-time continuous birefringence compensation

Contributors

Published in

Publication date

Abstract

UNIGE affiliation entities

Citation (ISO format)

Main files (1)

Identifiers

Additional URL for this publication

Journal ISSN

Technical informations

Creation

First validation

Update

Status update

Last indexation