Abstract
Free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) has attracted considerable attention due to its lower channel loss and link flexibility. It allows two participants share theoretical unconditional secure keys, and can potentially be applied to air-to-ground quantum communication to establish a global quantum network. Free-space QKD using modulating retro-reflectors (MRR-QKD) significantly reduces the pointing requirement and simplifies the structure of the mobile terminal, therefore making it suitable for lightweight aircraft such as unmanned aerial vehicle and Cubesat, etc. Based on intensity modulation of two non-orthogonal states and the B92 protocol, we proposed a scheme to improve the previous work (Optics Express 2018, 26, 11331). Our scheme simplifies the optical structure and shows more robustness in equipment imperfection. The analysis and simulation show that the number of multiple quantum well modulators needed in our scheme decreases from eight to three with similar performance. Additionally, while the previous scheme cannot work due to low modulator extinction ratio or high optical misalignment, our scheme can still operate.
Highlights
Academic Editors: Leong ChuanQuantum key distribution (QKD) can help two distant parties to realize theoretical unconditional security communication [1]
Based on the superposition of two mutually perpendicular waves [24], we proposed a MRR-quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on the B92 protocol [25]
We analyze the performance of our MRR-QKD system proposed in Section 2 and compare it with RM2018
Summary
Academic Editors: Leong ChuanQuantum key distribution (QKD) can help two distant parties to realize theoretical unconditional security communication [1]. Free-space QKD can achieve a transmission distance of thousands of kilometers owing to its lower channel loss, and it is suitable for mobile communication owing to its flexible link [5,6,7]. A worldwide quantum-secured communication network is foreseeable by integrating free-space and fiber-based QKD [8]. The miniaturization and light weight of QKD systems has become an important topic [11,12]. Cheaper microsatellites, such as standardized CubeSats, will play a greater role in future quantum networks [13,14,15].
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