Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1306.6641 · Nature Communications

Long-distance distribution of genuine energy-time entanglement

Álvaro Cuevas, Gonzalo Carvacho, Gabriel Saavedra, Jaime Cariñe, W. A. T. Nogueira, Miguel E. Figueroa, Adán Cabello, Paolo Mataloni, G. Lima, GUILHERME BARRETO XAVIER

Published Nov 29, 2013• 57 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Any practical realization of entanglement-based quantum communication must be intrinsically secure and able to span long distances avoiding the need of a straight line between the communicating parties. The violation of Bell’s inequality offers a method for the certification of quantum links without knowing the inner workings of the devices. Energy-time entanglement quantum communication satisfies all these requirements. However, currently there is a fundamental obstacle with the standard configuration adopted: an intrinsic geometrical loophole that can be exploited to break the security of the communication, in addition to other loopholes. Here we show the first experimental Bell violation with energy-time entanglement distributed over 1 km of optical fibres that is free of this geometrical loophole. This is achieved by adopting a new experimental design, and by using an actively stabilized fibre-based long interferometer. Our results represent an important step towards long-distance secure quantum communication in optical fibres. Practical implementations of quantum communication need to securely deliver information over long distances without line-of-sight. Towards this goal, Cuevas et al.use an actively stabilized interferometer to close the geometry loophole for a Bell inequality violation over 1 km of optical fibre.

DOI
10.1038/ncomms3871

Related papers

Postselection-Loophole-Free Bell Test Over an Installed Optical Fiber Network

Gonzalo Carvacho, Jaime Cariñe, Gabriel Saavedra +9 more

Device-independent quantum communication will require a loophole-free violation of Bell inequalities. In typical scenarios where line of sight between the communicating parties is not available, it is convenient to use energy-time entangled photons due to intrinsic robustness while propagating over optical fibers. Here we show an energy-time Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt Bell inequality violation with two parties separated by 3.7 km over the deployed optical fiber network belonging to the University of Concepción in Chile. Remarkably, this is the first Bell violation with spatially separated parties that is free of the postselection loophole, which affected all previous in-field long-distance energy-time experiments. Our work takes a further step towards a fiber-based loophole-free Bell test, which is highly desired for secure quantum communication due to the widespread existing telecommunication infrastructure.

arXiv:1503.07535•Physical Review Letters•Jul 14, 2015•28 citations

Postselection-Loophole-Free Bell Violation with Genuine Time-Bin Entanglement

Francesco Vedovato, Costantino Agnesi, Marco Tomasin +4 more

Entanglement is an invaluable resource for fundamental tests of physics and the implementation of quantum information protocols such as device-independent secure communications. In particular, time-bin entanglement is widely exploited to reach these purposes both in free space and optical fiber propagation, due to the robustness and simplicity of its implementation. However, all existing realizations of time-bin entanglement suffer from an intrinsic postselection loophole, which undermines their usefulness. Here, we report the first experimental violation of Bell's inequality with "genuine" time-bin entanglement, free of the postselection loophole. We introduced a novel function of the interferometers at the two measurement stations, that operate as fast synchronized optical switches. This scheme allowed us to obtain a postselection-loophole-free Bell violation of more than 9 standard deviations. Since our scheme is fully implementable using standard fiber-based components and is compatible with modern integrated photonics, our results pave the way for the distribution of genuine time-bin entanglement over long distances.

arXiv:1804.10150•Physical Review Letters•Nov 9, 2018•67 citations

High-dimensional quantum key distribution using energy-time entanglement over 242 km partially deployed fiber

Jingyuan Liu, Zhihao Lin, Dongning Liu +5 more

Abstract Entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) is an essential ingredient in quantum communication, owing to the property of source-independent security and the potential on constructing large-scale quantum communication networks. However, implementation of entanglement-based QKD over long-distance optical fiber links is still challenging, especially over deployed fibers. In this work, we report an experimental QKD using energy-time entangled photon pairs that transmit over optical fibers of 242 km (including a section of 19 km deployed fibers). The QKD is realized through the protocol of dispersive-optics QKD (DO-QKD) with high-dimensional encoding to utilize coincidence counts more efficiently. A reliable, high-accuracy time synchronization technology for long-distance entanglement-based QKD is developed based on the distribution of optical pulses in quantum channels. Our system operates continuously for more than 7 d without active polarization or phase calibration. We ultimately generate secure keys with secure key rates of 0.22 bps and 0.06 bps in the asymptotic and finite-size regimes, respectively. It shows that entanglement-based DO-QKD is reliable for long-distance realization in the field if its high requirement on time synchronization is satisfied.

arXiv:2212.02695•Quantum Science and Technology•Sep 28, 2023•42 citations

Distribution of high-dimensional orbital angular momentum entanglement at telecom wavelength over 1km of optical fibre

Huan Cao, Shecheng Gao, Chao Zhang +11 more

High-dimensional entanglement has demonstrated potential for increasing channel capacity and resistance to noise in quantum information processing. However, its distribution is a challenging task, imposing a severe restriction on its application. Here we report the first distribution of three-dimensional orbital angular momentum (OAM) entanglement via a 1-km-long optical fibre. Using an actively-stabilizing phase pre-compensation technique, we successfully transport one photon of a three-dimensional OAM entangled photon pair through the fibre. The distributed OAM entangled state still shows a fidelity up to 71\% with respect to the three-dimensional maximal-entangled-state (MES). In addition, we certify that the high-dimensional quantum entanglement survives the transportation by violating a generalized Bell inequality, obtaining a violation of $\sim3$ standard deviations with $I_{3}=2.12\pm0.04$. The method we developed can be extended to higher OAM dimension and larger distances in principle. Our results make a significant step towards future OAM-based high-dimensional long-distance quantum communication.

arXiv:1811.12195•Nov 29, 2018•4 citations

Nonlocality test of energy-time entanglement via nonlocal dispersion cancellation with nonlocal detection

Baihong Li, Feiyan Hou, Runai Quan +6 more

The energy-time entangled biphoton source plays a great role in quantum communication, quantum metrology, and quantum cryptography due to its strong temporal correlation and capability of nonlocal dispersion cancellation. As a quantum effect, nonlocal dispersion cancellation is further proposed as an alternative way for nonlocality testing of continuous variable entanglement via the violation of the Bell-like inequality proposed by Wasak et al. [Phys. Rev. A 82, 052120 (2010)]. However, to date there is no experimental report either on the inequality violation or on a nonlocal detection with single-photon detectors at a long-distance transmission channel, which is key for a true nonlocality test. In this paper, we report an experimental realization of a violation of the inequality after 62-km optical fiber transmission at telecom wavelengths with a nonlocal detection based on event timers and a cross-correlation algorithm, which indicates a successful nonlocal test of energy-time entanglement. This work provides feasibility for the strict test of the nonlocality for continuous variables in both long-distance communication fiber channel and free space.

arXiv:1906.03769•Physical Review A•Nov 4, 2019•29 citations

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Steering with No Detection Loophole over 1 km of Optical Fibre

Howard M. Wiseman, D. A. Evans, Cyril Branciard +4 more

Whether for quantum cryptography or for testing fundamental properties of the universe, it will be essential to demonstrate nonclassical effects over longer and longer distances. The barrier to doing so is loss of photons during propagation, because considering only those cases where a photon is detected opens a “detection loophole” in the security of any quantum information task in which parties or devices are untrusted. EPR-steering is a nonclassical effect which allows one party to verify that he shares entanglement with another party, even though he doesn't trust her. Using new, arbitrarily loss-tolerant tests, we perform the first detection-loophole-free demonstration of EPR-steering with entangled photon pairs. The parties are separated by a coiled 1 km optical fibre, giving total losses of 8.9 dB (87%).

Optics InfoBase Conference Papers•Jan 1, 2011•0 citations
Any practical realization of entanglement-based quantum communication must be intrinsically secure and able to span long distances avoiding the need of a straight line between the communicating parties. The violation of Bell’s inequality offers a method for the certification of quantum links without knowing the inner workings of the devices. Energy-time entanglement quantum communication satisfies all these requirements. However, currently there is a fundamental obstacle with the standard configuration adopted: an intrinsic geometrical loophole that can be exploited to break the security of the communication, in addition to other loopholes. Here we show the first experimental Bell violation with energy-time entanglement distributed over 1 km of optical fibres that is free of this geometrical loophole. This is achieved by adopting a new experimental design, and by using an actively stabilized fibre-based long interferometer. Our results represent an important step towards long-distance secure quantum communication in optical fibres. Practical implementations of quantum communication need to securely deliver information over long distances without line-of-sight. Towards this goal, Cuevas et al.use an actively stabilized interferometer to close the geometry loophole for a Bell inequality violation over 1 km of optical fibre.
Device-independent quantum communication will require a loophole-free violation of Bell inequalities. In typical scenarios where line of sight between the communicating parties is not available, it is convenient to use energy-time entangled photons due to intrinsic robustness while propagating over optical fibers. Here we show an energy-time Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt Bell inequality violation with two parties separated by 3.7 km over the deployed optical fiber network belonging to the University of Concepción in Chile. Remarkably, this is the first Bell violation with spatially separated parties that is free of the postselection loophole, which affected all previous in-field long-distance energy-time experiments. Our work takes a further step towards a fiber-based loophole-free Bell test, which is highly desired for secure quantum communication due to the widespread existing telecommunication infrastructure.
Entanglement is an invaluable resource for fundamental tests of physics and the implementation of quantum information protocols such as device-independent secure communications. In particular, time-bin entanglement is widely exploited to reach these purposes both in free space and optical fiber propagation, due to the robustness and simplicity of its implementation. However, all existing realizations of time-bin entanglement suffer from an intrinsic postselection loophole, which undermines their usefulness. Here, we report the first experimental violation of Bell's inequality with "genuine" time-bin entanglement, free of the postselection loophole. We introduced a novel function of the interferometers at the two measurement stations, that operate as fast synchronized optical switches. This scheme allowed us to obtain a postselection-loophole-free Bell violation of more than 9 standard deviations. Since our scheme is fully implementable using standard fiber-based components and is compatible with modern integrated photonics, our results pave the way for the distribution of genuine time-bin entanglement over long distances.
Abstract Entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) is an essential ingredient in quantum communication, owing to the property of source-independent security and the potential on constructing large-scale quantum communication networks. However, implementation of entanglement-based QKD over long-distance optical fiber links is still challenging, especially over deployed fibers. In this work, we report an experimental QKD using energy-time entangled photon pairs that transmit over optical fibers of 242 km (including a section of 19 km deployed fibers). The QKD is realized through the protocol of dispersive-optics QKD (DO-QKD) with high-dimensional encoding to utilize coincidence counts more efficiently. A reliable, high-accuracy time synchronization technology for long-distance entanglement-based QKD is developed based on the distribution of optical pulses in quantum channels. Our system operates continuously for more than 7 d without active polarization or phase calibration. We ultimately generate secure keys with secure key rates of 0.22 bps and 0.06 bps in the asymptotic and finite-size regimes, respectively. It shows that entanglement-based DO-QKD is reliable for long-distance realization in the field if its high requirement on time synchronization is satisfied.
High-dimensional entanglement has demonstrated potential for increasing channel capacity and resistance to noise in quantum information processing. However, its distribution is a challenging task, imposing a severe restriction on its application. Here we report the first distribution of three-dimensional orbital angular momentum (OAM) entanglement via a 1-km-long optical fibre. Using an actively-stabilizing phase pre-compensation technique, we successfully transport one photon of a three-dimensional OAM entangled photon pair through the fibre. The distributed OAM entangled state still shows a fidelity up to 71\% with respect to the three-dimensional maximal-entangled-state (MES). In addition, we certify that the high-dimensional quantum entanglement survives the transportation by violating a generalized Bell inequality, obtaining a violation of ∼3\sim3∼3 standard deviations with I3=2.12±0.04I_{3}=2.12\pm0.04I3​=2.12±0.04. The method we developed can be extended to higher OAM dimension and larger distances in principle. Our results make a significant step towards future OAM-based high-dimensional long-distance quantum communication.
The energy-time entangled biphoton source plays a great role in quantum communication, quantum metrology, and quantum cryptography due to its strong temporal correlation and capability of nonlocal dispersion cancellation. As a quantum effect, nonlocal dispersion cancellation is further proposed as an alternative way for nonlocality testing of continuous variable entanglement via the violation of the Bell-like inequality proposed by Wasak et al. [Phys. Rev. A 82, 052120 (2010)]. However, to date there is no experimental report either on the inequality violation or on a nonlocal detection with single-photon detectors at a long-distance transmission channel, which is key for a true nonlocality test. In this paper, we report an experimental realization of a violation of the inequality after 62-km optical fiber transmission at telecom wavelengths with a nonlocal detection based on event timers and a cross-correlation algorithm, which indicates a successful nonlocal test of energy-time entanglement. This work provides feasibility for the strict test of the nonlocality for continuous variables in both long-distance communication fiber channel and free space.
Whether for quantum cryptography or for testing fundamental properties of the universe, it will be essential to demonstrate nonclassical effects over longer and longer distances. The barrier to doing so is loss of photons during propagation, because considering only those cases where a photon is detected opens a “detection loophole” in the security of any quantum information task in which parties or devices are untrusted. EPR-steering is a nonclassical effect which allows one party to verify that he shares entanglement with another party, even though he doesn't trust her. Using new, arbitrarily loss-tolerant tests, we perform the first detection-loophole-free demonstration of EPR-steering with entangled photon pairs. The parties are separated by a coiled 1 km optical fibre, giving total losses of 8.9 dB (87%).