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arXiv:2006.14442

Thermo-mechanical design for a miniaturized quantum light source on board the SpooQy-1 CubeSat

Huai Ying Lim, Tom Vergoossen, Robert Bedington, Xueliang Bai, Aitor Villar, Alexander Lohrmann, Nhung, Nguyen Hong, Barraclough, Simon, Jai Vennik, Douglas K. Griffin, Alexander Ling

Published Jun 25, 2020• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

This paper presents the thermo-mechanical design of the quantum light source on board SpooQy-1, a 3U CubeSat that was deployed from the International Space Station on 17th June 2019. SpooQy-1 is a technology demonstrator for space-based quantum networks. The on-board light source generates and detects polarization-entangled photon pairs to validate its in-orbit performance. Entangled photons are generated using spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) necessitating stringent dimensional stability and temperature requirements. Under laboratory conditions these requirements are routinely met using off-the-shelf laboratory mounts and alignment mechanisms. However, when facing harsh environments such as the vibration during rocket launch or temperature changes due to fluctuating illumination conditions, custom thermo-mechanical solutions are required. In this work, the development and in-orbit demonstration of an isostatic payload mount is discussed. This mounting approach enables future space missions with quantum instruments on resource-constrained CubeSat platforms with limited thermal control capabilities.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2006.14442

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This paper presents the thermo-mechanical design of the quantum light source on board SpooQy-1, a 3U CubeSat that was deployed from the International Space Station on 17th June 2019. SpooQy-1 is a technology demonstrator for space-based quantum networks. The on-board light source generates and detects polarization-entangled photon pairs to validate its in-orbit performance. Entangled photons are generated using spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) necessitating stringent dimensional stability and temperature requirements. Under laboratory conditions these requirements are routinely met using off-the-shelf laboratory mounts and alignment mechanisms. However, when facing harsh environments such as the vibration during rocket launch or temperature changes due to fluctuating illumination conditions, custom thermo-mechanical solutions are required. In this work, the development and in-orbit demonstration of an isostatic payload mount is discussed. This mounting approach enables future space missions with quantum instruments on resource-constrained CubeSat platforms with limited thermal control capabilities.
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SpooQy-1 is a 3-unit nanosatellite that was launched into a Low Earth Orbit from the International Space Station on the 17th of June 2019. The spacecraft hosts a scientific payload capable of producing entangled photon-pairs and measuring their polarization in orthogonal bases to perform a Bell test. Since launch, SpooQy-1 has routinely demonstrated the generation and detection of polarization entangled photon-pairs in Space, something that has previously only been demonstrated by the 630kg Micius mission by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The measured entanglement correlations can violate Bell's inequality with a CHSH parameter value of 2.60±0.06, over operating temperatures of 16 °C to 21.5 °C. These results demonstrate that quantum entanglement can be generated in space on highly resource-constrained platforms. A follow-on 12U mission, developed in partnership with RAL space,will build on this to demonstrate space-to-ground entanglement distribution, which is required for space-based nodes to support global quantum communication networks.
Quantum sources and receivers operating on-board satellites are an essential building block for global quantum networks. SpooQy-1 is a satellite developed at the Centre for Quantum Technologies, which has successfully demonstrated the operation of an entangled photon pair source on a resource-constrained CubeSat platform. This miniaturized and ruggedized photon pair source is being upgraded to be capable of space-to-ground quantum key distribution and long-range entanglement distribution. In this paper, we share results from SpooQy-1, discuss their relevance for the engineering challenges of a small satellite quantum node, and report on the development of the new light source.
To overcome the challenges of establishing a global Quantum Key Distribution network using optical fibers, several communication protocols using satellites have been proposed. A major milestone towards such a goal is the demonstration of a working source of entangled photons on a satellite. We are building a compact instrument capable of generating entangled photon pairs through spontaneous parametric down conversion. We intend to follow an iterative development cycle with the first mission to demonstrate that the control electronics can reliably operate an optical source of correlated photons in orbit. The instrument we are building is designed to be integrated into a nanosatellite and conforms to the size, weight and power requirements of a 1U CubeSat. The instrument contains a power stabilized optical pump, single photon detectors and inertial free polarization rotators to measure polarization correlations onboard the nanosatellite. The single photon detection unit utilizes a software based controlling mechanism to achieve temperature independent operation in a typical low earth orbit nanosatellite. The integrated system has been tested for thermal, vacuum and vibration environments. The latest test on a high altitude balloon demonstrates the technology readiness of the electronics payload for space missions.
To enable space-based quantum key distribution proposals the Centre for Quantum Technologies is developing a source of entangled photons ruggedized to survive deployment in space and greatly miniaturised so that it conforms to the strict form factor and power requirements of a 1U CubeSat. The Small Photon Entangling Quantum System is an integrated instrument where the pump, photon pair source and detectors are combined within a single optical tray and electronics package that is no larger than 10 cm x 10 cm x 3 cm. This footprint enables the instrument to be placed onboard nanosatellites or the CubeLab structure aboard the International Space Station. We will discuss the challenges and future prospects of CubeSat-based missions.