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Recent Development in Quantum Communications

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Major Accomplishments

Nature Photonics reports on ITL collaboration with CNST: Converting single photon emission from one wavelength to another is an important resource for integrating future quantum systems that combine low-loss optical transmission in the near-infrared with long-lived memories in the near-visible.  As described in an upcoming issue of Nature Photonics, a collaborative research effort from CNST and ITL has demonstrated frequency upconversion of single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot from the near-infrared to the near-visible.  Read more here.


Entangled Photon Pair Sources: Entangled photon pairs are important for the realization of quantum communication and quantum computation. Our basic objective is to develop photon pairs that can interface between flying photonic qubits in optical fiber and stationary atomic qubits in quantum memories. As the fist step, we experimentally implemented a non-degenerate sequential time-bin entangled photon-pair source. The second step, our effort is focused on to narrow down the spectral linewidth of the photon pairs so that they can be effectively interact with atoms in the quantum memory. Read more here.


Frequency Converter Enables Ultra-High Sensitivity Infrared Spectrometry: Single photon level spectroscopy for the elusive infrared region has been demonstrated as part of ITL's Quantum Information Program. We have developed and demonstrated a new technology to measure the very low light (-126 dBm) spectra in the near infrared (IR) region using the frequency up-conversion technology developed previously.Read more here.


NIST Quantum Cryptography Highlighted in New Journal of Physics: Recent research has shown that the security of a key string of finite length can only be assured for key strings of relatively long lengths, and this understanding has underscored the importance of high-speed systems that maximize key production rates. The successful efforts at NIST in quantum information research are represented in two articles in the latest issue of the New Journal of Physics: Focus on Quantum Cryptography: Theory and Practice.Read more here.


NIST Design Enables More Cost Effective Quantum Key Distribution: ITL quantum communication research team have developed a new configuration for quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, in which the minimum number of single photon detectors needed is halved. The new configuration greatly simplifies the QKD structure and therefore reduced its cost.Read more here.


Record key speed set by fiber QKD system at NIST: A QKD system, built in ITL, produced quantum secure keys at a rate of more than 2 million bits per second (bps) over 1 kilometer (km) of optical fiber. This is a step toward using conventional optical fiber to distribute quantum crypto keys in local-area networks (LANs).Read more here.


Three-User active QKD network developed by ITL researchers: ITL researchers have developed a high speed active three-node QKD network, in which the QKD path can be routed by optical switches. Using this network, a QKD secured video surveillance system has been successfully demonstrated. Read more here.


NIST QKD system at 1310 nm combines speed and distance: NIST researchers developed a quantum key distribution system with photons being transmitted at 1310 nm, where fiber loss is small, and after wavelength conversion, being detected at 710 nm, where single photons can be detected with good performance. Read more here.


Wireless QKD demonstrated by ITL and PL researchers: Scientists from ITL and the Physics Labarotory tested a QKD by transmitting photons over free space between two NIST buildings that are 730 meters apart. Read more here.


High-speed electronic control board makes NIST QKD system unique: High-speed electronics boards for controlling the NIST QKD system were designed for both the key sender (Alice) and receiver (Bob). An FPGA on each board allows for complex parallel logic that is reprogramable providing a path for revisions and enhancements. Read more here.


Low-noise frequency up-conversion single photon detector demonstrated by NIST: Fiber loss is small around 1310 nm and 1550 nm. Single photons can be detected with good performance between 600 and 900 nm. The up-conversion, technology, developed by ITL, helps to solve this dilemma. Read more here.


Error Correction Software Developed by NIST: NIST computer scientists have developed a high-speed approach to error correction adapted from telecommunications techniques. This makes it possible to correct bit errors rapidly without time-consuming discussions between sender and receiver and without wasting key bits by revealing it to a potential eavesdropper. Read more here.


Early Development: Follow the various phases of the early development of the Quantum Information Networks project. Read more here.


Created December 22, 2009, Updated June 12, 2017