Abstract
Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols based on high-dimensional quantum states have shown the route to increase the key rate generation while benefiting of enhanced error tolerance, thus overcoming the limitations of two-dimensional QKD protocols. Nonetheless, the reliable transmission through fiber links of high-dimensional quantum states remains an open challenge that must be addressed to boost their application. Here, we demonstrate the reliable transmission over a 2-km-long multicore fiber of path-encoded high-dimensional quantum states. Leveraging on a phase-locked loop system, a stable interferometric detection is guaranteed, allowing for low error rates and the generation of 6.3 Mbit/s of a secret key rate.
Highlights
Quantum key distribution (QKD) constitutes the very first step toward a quantum internet, and it is the most technologically advanced application in quantum communication so far[1,2]
Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols based on high-dimensional quantum states have shown the route to increase the key rate generation while benefiting of enhanced error tolerance, overcoming the limitations of two-dimensional QKD protocols
We demonstrate the reliable transmission over a 2-km-long multicore fiber of pathencoded high-dimensional quantum states
Summary
Quantum key distribution (QKD) constitutes the very first step toward a quantum internet, and it is the most technologically advanced application in quantum communication so far[1,2]. State of the art experiments directly address the factors that are currently limiting the actual deployment of QKD technology These factors are the achievable communication distance[3,4,5], the key rate generation[6,7], and the coexistence of QKD protocols with classical communication channels[7,8]. Different photonic degrees of freedom can be exploited to prepare high-dimensional states, such as the orbital angular momentum of light[12,13,14,15], frequency[16,17], time-energy and time-bin encoding[6,18,19,20,21,22] and path[23,24,25,26,27].
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