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Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference

Point-to-point free-space quantum cryptography over 1/2 km

W. T. Buttler, Richard Hughes, Paul G. Kwiat, S. K. Lamoreaux, George L. Morgan, J. E. Nordholt, Charles G. Peterson

Published Jan 20, 2003• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Summary form only given. We have demonstrated a point-to-point single photon quantum cryptographic key distribution over a free-space optical path of /spl sim/475 m (>1,000 times farther than any reported point-to-point demonstration, and >6 times the previous daylight transmission distance), under both daylight and nighttime conditions. Within the next few months, we expect to extend the daylight range to 2 km. A brief description of the system is given here.

DOI
10.1109/qels.1999.807379

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Summary form only given. We have demonstrated a point-to-point single photon quantum cryptographic key distribution over a free-space optical path of /spl sim/475 m (>1,000 times farther than any reported point-to-point demonstration, and >6 times the previous daylight transmission distance), under both daylight and nighttime conditions. Within the next few months, we expect to extend the daylight range to 2 km. A brief description of the system is given here.
Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and the most recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed in orbit. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.
Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and the most recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed in orbit. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.
Summary form only given.We demonstrated quantum cryptography, or quantum key distribution (QKD), in free space over an outdoor optical path of /spl sim/950 m under nighttime conditions. The success of free space QKD against a high background depends on the transmission and detection of single photons through an optically thick and turbulent medium. It has been shown that a combination of sub-nanosecond timing, narrow filters, spatial filtering, and adaptive optics can render the difficult detection problem tractable. Further, the nonbirefringent nature of the atmosphere at optical wavelengths allows the transmission of the single photon polarization states used in the free-space QKD protocol.
Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and the most recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed on orbit. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.
Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and the most recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed on orbit. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.