Berlin 2024 – scientific programme
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QI: Fachverband Quanteninformation
QI 3: Quantum Communication
QI 3.2: Talk
Monday, March 18, 2024, 09:45–10:00, HFT-TA 441
A highly compact and robust QKD sender unit for satellite applications — •Moritz Birkhold1,2, Michael Auer1,2,3, Adomas Baliuka1,2, Peter Freiwang1,2, Lukas Knips1,2,4, and Harald Weinfurter1,2,4,5 — 1Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany — 2Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Munich, Germany — 3Universität der Bundeswehr, Neubiberg, Germany — 4Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany — 5University of Gdańsk, Poland
Quantum key distribution (QKD) offers fundamental advantages over classical distribution of secret keys. If done correctly, any eavesdropping attack will be detected, allowing to exchange a perfectly private key between two parties. The BB84 protocol with decoy state analysis enabeling use of highly attenuated laser pulses as a photon source is very promising for bringing QKD out of laboratories into the real world. Furthermore, provided the device is robust and efficient with space and energy consumption, deploying QKD sender units on satellites and transmitting the keys in free space can accelerate the creation of a global QKD network.
In this talk, we show our advances in creating such a compact and low-power sender unit using vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, micro optics and waveguide chips. This unit is tested for possible side channels and, together with an equally compact and low-power processing and control board handling the full QKD protocol including error correction, privacy amplification and authentication, is about to fly on the QUBE-II satellite mission.
Keywords: QKD; Quantum Key Distribution; BB84; Satellite-based Quantum communication