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

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Free-space quantum key distribution with a high generation rate potassium titanyl phosphate waveguide photon-pair source

Jeffrey D. Wilson, Dalton W. Chaffee, Nathaniel C. Wilson, John Lekki, Roger P. Tokars, John J. Pouch, Tony Roberts, Philip R. Battle, Bertram M. Floyd, Alexander J. Lind, John Cavin, Spencer R. Helmick

Published Sep 13, 2016• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A high generation rate photon-pair source using a dual element periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PP KTP) waveguide is described. The fully integrated photon-pair source consists of a 1064-nm pump diode laser, fiber-coupled to a dual element waveguide within which a pair of 1064-nm photons are up-converted to a single 532-nm photon in the first stage. In the second stage, the 532-nm photon is down-converted to an entangled photon-pair at 800 nm and 1600 nm which are fiber-coupled at the waveguide output. The photon-pair source features a high pair generation rate, a compact power-efficient package, and continuous wave (CW) or pulsed operation. This is a significant step towards the long term goal of developing sources for high-rate Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to enable Earth-space secure communications. Characterization and test results are presented. Details and preliminary results of a laboratory free space QKD experiment with the B92 protocol are also presented.

DOI
10.1117/12.2237742

Related papers

Quantum Communication with a High-Rate Entangled Photon Source

Nathaniel C. Wilson, Dalton W. Chaffee, John Lekki +1 more

A high generation rate photon-pair source using a dual element periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PP KTP) waveguide is described. The photon-pair source features a high pair generation rate, a compact power-efficient package, and continuous wave (CW) or pulsed operation. Characterization and test results are presented. Details and preliminary results of a laboratory free-space QKD experiment with the B92 protocol are also presented.

•Oct 14, 2016•0 citations

Coincidence studies of entangled photon pairs using nanowire detection and high-resolution time tagging for QKD application

Evan J. Katz, Roger P. Tokars, Ian R. Nemitz +9 more

Entangled photon pairs are created by a system consisting of a 1064 nm pump diode laser that is fiber coupled to a high generation rate photon pair source. The source is a dual element periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide that up-converts 1064 nm photons to single 532 nm photons in the first stage. In the second stage, the green photons are down converted to energy entangled photon pairs at 800 nm and 1600 nm. The output photon pairs are guided by fiber to sorting optics where they are separated and sent into high-efficiency photon detectors. In particular, the 1600 nm photons are detected by a superconducting nanowire with efficiency over 60% and dead time less than 50 ns. Detector output electrical signals are sent to a time tagger with bin resolution as narrow as 25 ps for coincidence counting. The ultimate goal of this setup is to demonstrate a singlesource, high efficiency, high data rate, quantum communication system to enable Earth-space quantum networks. Of particular interest is a source of entangled photons that is amenable to utilization in aircraft and spacecraft under rigorous flight and environmental conditions. Test results that characterize the entangled photon pair creation and detection capabilities of our system will be presented.

Broadband Access Communication Technologies•Jan 29, 2018•2 citations

Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution with a High Generation Rate KTP Waveguide Photon-Pair Source

Jeffrey D. Wilson, Dalton W. Chaffee, N. L. Wilson +9 more

NASA awarded Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts to AdvR, Inc to develop a high generation rate source of entangled photons that could be used to explore quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols. The final product, a photon pair source using a dual-element periodically- poled potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide, was delivered to NASA Glenn Research Center in June of 2015. This paper describes the source, its characterization, and its performance in a B92 (Bennett, 1992) protocol QKD experiment.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Aug 28, 2016•0 citations

Spatially single mode photon pair source at 800 nm in periodically poled Rubidium exchanged KTP waveguides

Christof Eigner, Laura Padberg, Matteo Santandrea +3 more

Photon pair sources in the visible to NIR wavelength region play a key role in quantum optics. The wavelength range around 800 nm provides an opportunity for using low cost detectors, which makes it highly interesting for practical, large scale quantum applications. Here, we report on the realization of single mode Rubidium (Rb) exchanged waveguides in periodically poled (PP) Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (Rb:KTiOPO4 or Rb:KTP) for frequency-non-degenerate type II parametric down-conversion pumped at 400 nm and generating pairs of photons at around 800 nm. The source exhibits a nonlinear conversion efficiency of 2.0%/(Wcm2), estimated from SHG measurements. Characterisation of the generated two-photon state confirms nonclassical photon-number correlations, characterized by g(1,1). The high nonlinear conversion efficiency and low temperature sensitivity make this source a promising candidate for operations in both classical and quantum integrated network applications.

Optics Express•Sep 24, 2020•12 citations

Preparation of Multi-channel Photon Pairs in a Periodically Poled Potassium Titanyl Phosphate Waveguide

Guo Guang-Can

A scheme to generate multi-channel photon pairs is presented,based on a periodically poled(PP) Potassium Titanyl Phosphate(KTP) waveguide via spontaneous parametric downconversion(SPDC).Type-II and type-I phase matching cases with a pulsed and a cw pump laser are discussed respectively.It is analytically shown that several photon pairs could be generated in a single type-II PPKTP waveguide,and the wavelengths of all photon pairs are in the telecom band.In type-I case,several photon pairs can be prepared,but one photon of each pair is not in telecom band.And,a multi-channel photon pairs source could be realized.

ACTA PHOTONICA SINICA•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

Polarization Entangled Photon-pair Source Using a Broadband Pump

Chithrahanu Perumangatt, Alexander Lohrmann, Aitor Villar +1 more

We experimentally demonstrate a high quality, 100 nm broadband polarization entangled photon-pair source using a linear interferometer design based on a single periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PPKTP) crystal pumped with a free running laser diode.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2020•0 citations
A high generation rate photon-pair source using a dual element periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate (PP KTP) waveguide is described. The fully integrated photon-pair source consists of a 1064-nm pump diode laser, fiber-coupled to a dual element waveguide within which a pair of 1064-nm photons are up-converted to a single 532-nm photon in the first stage. In the second stage, the 532-nm photon is down-converted to an entangled photon-pair at 800 nm and 1600 nm which are fiber-coupled at the waveguide output. The photon-pair source features a high pair generation rate, a compact power-efficient package, and continuous wave (CW) or pulsed operation. This is a significant step towards the long term goal of developing sources for high-rate Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to enable Earth-space secure communications. Characterization and test results are presented. Details and preliminary results of a laboratory free space QKD experiment with the B92 protocol are also presented.
Entangled photon pairs are created by a system consisting of a 1064 nm pump diode laser that is fiber coupled to a high generation rate photon pair source. The source is a dual element periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide that up-converts 1064 nm photons to single 532 nm photons in the first stage. In the second stage, the green photons are down converted to energy entangled photon pairs at 800 nm and 1600 nm. The output photon pairs are guided by fiber to sorting optics where they are separated and sent into high-efficiency photon detectors. In particular, the 1600 nm photons are detected by a superconducting nanowire with efficiency over 60% and dead time less than 50 ns. Detector output electrical signals are sent to a time tagger with bin resolution as narrow as 25 ps for coincidence counting. The ultimate goal of this setup is to demonstrate a singlesource, high efficiency, high data rate, quantum communication system to enable Earth-space quantum networks. Of particular interest is a source of entangled photons that is amenable to utilization in aircraft and spacecraft under rigorous flight and environmental conditions. Test results that characterize the entangled photon pair creation and detection capabilities of our system will be presented.
NASA awarded Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts to AdvR, Inc to develop a high generation rate source of entangled photons that could be used to explore quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols. The final product, a photon pair source using a dual-element periodically- poled potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide, was delivered to NASA Glenn Research Center in June of 2015. This paper describes the source, its characterization, and its performance in a B92 (Bennett, 1992) protocol QKD experiment.
Photon pair sources in the visible to NIR wavelength region play a key role in quantum optics. The wavelength range around 800 nm provides an opportunity for using low cost detectors, which makes it highly interesting for practical, large scale quantum applications. Here, we report on the realization of single mode Rubidium (Rb) exchanged waveguides in periodically poled (PP) Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (Rb:KTiOPO4 or Rb:KTP) for frequency-non-degenerate type II parametric down-conversion pumped at 400 nm and generating pairs of photons at around 800 nm. The source exhibits a nonlinear conversion efficiency of 2.0%/(Wcm2), estimated from SHG measurements. Characterisation of the generated two-photon state confirms nonclassical photon-number correlations, characterized by g(1,1). The high nonlinear conversion efficiency and low temperature sensitivity make this source a promising candidate for operations in both classical and quantum integrated network applications.
A scheme to generate multi-channel photon pairs is presented,based on a periodically poled(PP) Potassium Titanyl Phosphate(KTP) waveguide via spontaneous parametric downconversion(SPDC).Type-II and type-I phase matching cases with a pulsed and a cw pump laser are discussed respectively.It is analytically shown that several photon pairs could be generated in a single type-II PPKTP waveguide,and the wavelengths of all photon pairs are in the telecom band.In type-I case,several photon pairs can be prepared,but one photon of each pair is not in telecom band.And,a multi-channel photon pairs source could be realized.