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Experimental Satellite Quantum Communications

Giuseppe Vallone, Davide Bacco, Daniele Dequal, Simone Gaiarin, Vincenza Luceri, Giuseppe Bianco, and Paolo Villoresi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 040502 – Published 20 July 2015
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Abstract

Quantum communication (QC), namely, the faithful transmission of generic quantum states, is a key ingredient of quantum information science. Here we demonstrate QC with polarization encoding from space to ground by exploiting satellite corner cube retroreflectors as quantum transmitters in orbit and the Matera Laser Ranging Observatory of the Italian Space Agency in Matera, Italy, as a quantum receiver. The quantum bit error ratio (QBER) has been kept steadily low to a level suitable for several quantum information protocols, as the violation of Bell inequalities or quantum key distribution (QKD). Indeed, by taking data from different satellites, we demonstrate an average value of QBER=4.6% for a total link duration of 85 s. The mean photon number per pulse μsat leaving the satellites was estimated to be of the order of one. In addition, we propose a fully operational satellite QKD system by exploiting our communication scheme with orbiting retroreflectors equipped with a modulator, a very compact payload. Our scheme paves the way toward the implementation of a QC worldwide network leveraging existing receivers.

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  • Received 13 April 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.040502

© 2015 American Physical Society

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Sending Quantum Messages Through Space

Published 20 July 2015

Fragile photon states useful for quantum communication can be faithfully transmitted and distinguished over a link between an orbiting satellite and a telescope on Earth.

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Authors & Affiliations

Giuseppe Vallone1, Davide Bacco1, Daniele Dequal1, Simone Gaiarin1, Vincenza Luceri2, Giuseppe Bianco3, and Paolo Villoresi1,*

  • 1Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
  • 2e-GEOS spa, Matera 75100, Italy
  • 3Matera Laser Ranging Observatory, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Matera 75100, Italy

  • *paolo.villoresi@dei.unipd.it

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 4 — 24 July 2015

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