Quantum Key Distribution Using Polarized Single Infrared Photons
Abstract
Experimental research has been conducted in order to establish the new quantum key distribution system for secure and undecipherable quantum communications. The system has been based on optical single-photon transmitters and superconducting single-photon detector receivers. The photon transmitters were based on heavily attenuated femtosecond optical pulses, generated by a high-repetition-rate laser. Novel superconducting devices were designed and developed for efficient and ultrafast counting of visible-light and near-infrared (telecommunication wavelength) photons. The devices were fabricated as nanostructured superconducting NbN serpentine lines with the active area of 100 micrometers squared and operated at 4.2 K inside a cryostat. The detector experimental quantum efficiency reached above 10% for visible-light and up to 8% for near-infrared photons. The dark counts were 0.1 per second. The real-time photon counting rate was above 2 GHz and jitter was 18 ps. In terms of the photon-counting performance, our detectors are significantly better than any competing avalanche photodiodes and photomultipliers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA428613
Entities
People
- Roman Sobolewski
Organizations
- University of Rochester