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Satellite-Relayed Intercontinental Quantum Network

Sheng-Kai Liao et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 030501 – Published 19 January 2018
Physics logo See Focus story: Intercontinental, Quantum-Encrypted Messaging and Video
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Abstract

We perform decoy-state quantum key distribution between a low-Earth-orbit satellite and multiple ground stations located in Xinglong, Nanshan, and Graz, which establish satellite-to-ground secure keys with kHz rate per passage of the satellite Micius over a ground station. The satellite thus establishes a secure key between itself and, say, Xinglong, and another key between itself and, say, Graz. Then, upon request from the ground command, Micius acts as a trusted relay. It performs bitwise exclusive or operations between the two keys and relays the result to one of the ground stations. That way, a secret key is created between China and Europe at locations separated by 7600 km on Earth. These keys are then used for intercontinental quantum-secured communication. This was, on the one hand, the transmission of images in a one-time pad configuration from China to Austria as well as from Austria to China. Also, a video conference was performed between the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which also included a 280 km optical ground connection between Xinglong and Beijing. Our work clearly confirms the Micius satellite as a robust platform for quantum key distribution with different ground stations on Earth, and points towards an efficient solution for an ultralong-distance global quantum network.

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  • Received 6 December 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.030501

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & TechnologyAtomic, Molecular & Optical

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Intercontinental, Quantum-Encrypted Messaging and Video

Published 19 January 2018

China and Austria used a satellite link to exchange quantum encrypted data for images and a video stream, a first step toward a secure “quantum internet.”

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Vol. 120, Iss. 3 — 19 January 2018

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