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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)

All-optical synchronization for quantum communication networks

Bruno Fedrici, Lutfi Arif Ngah, Olivier Alibart, Florian Kaiser, Laurent Labonté, Virginia D’Auria, Sébastien Tanzilli

Published Jun 1, 2017• 1 citation

Abstract

Summary form only given. Entanglement based quantum communications and quantum networks are considered as fundamental resources to address the demand of secure communications. In this context, the architecture known as quantum relay plays a crucial role as it allows linking together independent communication channels each spanned by a pair of entangled photons. In particular, this scheme is particularly interesting for long instance applications where the bad effect of propagation losses and detection imperfections can be reduced by dividing a long link into shorter subsections and connecting then via entanglement teleportation [1].In conclusion, our scheme offers a valid and extremely simple solution to the source synchronization issues affecting the quantum relay schemes. Eventually, we note that the proposed configuration completely relies on off-the-shelf telecom and non-linear components, that can be easily interfaced to existing telecom fibre networks.

DOI: 10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2017.8087382

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Abstract We propose and experimentally demonstrate a plug-and-play, practical, and enabling method allowing to synchronise the building blocks of a quantum network in an all-optical way. Our scheme relies on mature and reliable classical telecommunication and non-linear optical technologies, and can be implemented in a universal way with off-the-shelf components. Compared to already reported solutions, it allows achieving high-quality synchronisation compatible with high network-operation rate and is free from opto-electronic jitters affecting servo-loop-based configurations. We test our scheme with a genuine quantum optical method in terms of the interference between two photons coming from two remotely synchronised sources spaced by distances of up to 100 km. Measured visibilities well above 90% confirm the validity of our approach. Due its simplicity and high-quality performance, our scheme paves the way for the synchronisation of long-distance quantum networks based on fibre, free-space, as well as hybrid solutions.

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