High-Speed Quantum Communication Testbed

Published

December 1, 2002

Author(s)

Carl J. Williams, Xiao Tang, M Hiekkero, J Rouzard, R Lu, A Goedecke, Alan L. Migdall, Alan Mink, Anastase Nakassis, Leticia S. Pibida

Abstract

We describe the current status of the NIST Quantum Communication Testbed (QCT) facility. QCT is a facility for exploring quantum communication in an enviornment similar to that projected for early commercial implementations: quantum cryptographic key exchange on a gigabit/second free-space optical (FSO) channel. Its purpose is to provide an open platform for testing and validating performance in the application, network, and physical layers of quantum communications systems. The channel uses modified commercial FSO equipment to link two buildings on the Gaithersburg, MD campus of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), separated by approximately 600 meters. At the time of writing, QCT is under construction; it will eventually be made available to the research community as a user facility. This paper presents the basic design considerations underlying QCT, and reports the current status of the project.

Proceedings Title

Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging , Conference | 2nd | Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging II | SPIE

Conference Dates

July 1, 2002

Conference Title

Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

free space optical communications, gigabit ethernet, quantum cryptography

Citation

Williams, C. , Tang, X. , Hiekkero, M. , Rouzard, J. , Lu, R. , Goedecke, A. , Migdall, A. , Mink, A. , Nakassis, A. and Pibida, L. (2002), High-Speed Quantum Communication Testbed, Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging , Conference | 2nd | Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging II | SPIE, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=840583 (Accessed October 20, 2025)