Abstract
To implement the BB84 decoy-state quantum key distribution
(QKD) protocol over a lossy ground-satellite quantum uplink requires a source
that has high repetition rate of short laser pulses, long term stability,
and no phase correlations between pulses. We present a new type of telecom
optical polarization and amplitude modulator, based on a balanced Mach–Zehnder
interferometer configuration, coupled to a polarization-preserving sum-frequency
generation (SFG) optical setup, generating 532 nm photons with modulated polarization
and amplitude states. The weak coherent pulses produced by SFG meet the challenging
requirements for long range QKD, featuring a high clock rate of 76 MHz, pico-second
pulse width, phase randomization, and 98% polarization visibility for all
states. Successful QKD has been demonstrated using this apparatus with full
system stability up to 160 minutes and channel losses as high 57 dB . We present the design and simulation
of the hardware through the Mueller matrix and Stokes vector relations, together
with an experimental implementation working in the telecom wavelength band.
We show the utility of the complete system by performing high loss QKD simulations,
and confirm that our modulator fulfills the expected performance.
© 2013 IEEE
PDF Article
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