Progress toward a quantum communication satellite

Jian-Wei Pan

By using satellites, ultra-long-distance quantum communication and tests of quantum foundations could be achieved at a global scale. The Quantum Experiment Science Satellite (QUESS) in China, also called Micius, one of the scientific satellite programs in the Strategic Priority Program on space science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was launched on 16 August 2016. There are totally 4 scientific payloads. We give a brief overview of the quantum experiment science satellite project and present most recent science results. The main scientific goal of the quantum experiment science satellite was achieved in 2017. Here, we introduce the latest achievements in satellite-based quantum communication and large-scale tests of quantum foundations obtained by Micius.

Sonai Biswas, Riccardo Bassoli, Janis Nötzel +3 more

Supriyo Banerjee

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the most common secure techniques for exchanging key between two or more legitimate users using some insecure network. Despite much progress, ground-based secure communication systems using QKD is not feasible due to high atmospheric loss in free space communication where the range of communication may be extended. Thus, the physicists will be able to create satellite based QKD network for secure communication. This manuscript summarizes research and development from QKD protocols between two legitimate users to Ground to satellite based QKD network. It includes the progress of secure protocols using QKD around the world in respect with infrastructure, security and the technical challenges.

Patrick Gélard, Laurent de Forges de Parny

Juan Yin, Ji-Gang Ren, Sheng‐Kai Liao +13 more

Quantum communication is proven to be the only unconditionally secure method for information exchange, which could well be the first commercial application of quantum information science. Compared with fiber-based demonstrations, free-space links could provide a more promising approach because photon loss and decoherence are almost negligible in the atmosphere. Furthermore, by using satellites, ultra-long-distance quantum communication and tests of quantum foundations could be achieved on a global scale. Here we report a serial of recent experimental progresses on free-space quantum communication over long distance in the Qinghai Lake area. In the meantime, besides the experimental efforts on the ground, Chinese Quantum Science Satellite has been launched on August 16th2016. And we will introduce the latest achievements in satellite-based quantum communication and large-scale tests of quantum foundations obtained through Micius.

Yuan Wen Cao