Abstract
We demonstrate a quantum key distribution (QKD) testbed for room temperature single photon sources based on defect centres in diamond. A BB84 protocol over a short free-space transmission line is implemented. The performance of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) as well as silicon-vacancy defect (SiV) centres is evaluated. An extrapolation for the future applicability of such sources in quantum information processing is discussed.
Highlights
Single photons are a key ingredient in many quantum information processing (QIP) applications
We demonstrate a quantum key distribution (QKD) testbed for room temperature single photon sources based on defect centres in diamond
In order to test the suitability of two different single photon sources we ran the BB84 protocol in the QKD setup
Summary
Single photons are a key ingredient in many quantum information processing (QIP) applications. In QKD, high key rate and/or long distance experiments have been successfully implemented without true single photons using weak coherent laser pulses (WCP) [3, 4] together with the decoy state protocol [5, 6]. Whereas emission into the zero phonon line (ZPL) is a few per cent for the NV centre (3% at cryogenic temperatures [19]), the SiV emits 70–80% of photons into the ZPL Both for NV and SiV centres high photon generation rates have been reported, for the NV exceeding 2 Mcps [20], for the SiV exceeding 6 Mcps [10], all under continuous laser excitation. QKD experiments are performed with NV centres and for the first time with SiV centres
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