We demonstrate that adaptive optics (AO) can be used to improve tolerance to atmospheric turbulence in free-space optical (FSO) quantum communications. Both the overall secret-key rate and quantum bit-error rate for BB84 protocol have been significantly improved by the AO.
This article offers a solution to the fragmentation problem through a unified model and simulation showing how Adaptive Optics (AO) improves both classical and quantum communications. Free-space optical links can carry Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over distances that cannot be reached with fiber; however, atmospheric turbulence corrupts the wavefront. For a single-mode quantum receiver, this drives the quantum bit error rate above the security threshold before detector noise can even be considered. AO addresses this by restoring the wavefront and recovering the coupling loss. The theory, mitigation techniques, and quantum security analysis needed to understand this are spread across three research communities that rarely cite one another: atmospheric turbulence and AO theory, classical modulation over fading channels, and BB84 quantum key distribution. We consolidate and develops all three topics in order to trace the chain from wavefront error to bit error rate and secret key rate. We survey six families of turbulence mitigation and provide an assessment of their suitability for single-mode quantum links. In addition, we survey the free-space QKD experimental record, from terrestrial hops to satellite downlinks. A wave optics case study of a representative 500-km Low Earth Orbit (LEO) downlink, corrected by a closed-loop Shack–Hartmann and deformable-mirror receiver at 1.55 μm ties the review together. Across a turbulence sweep, the correction stabilizes single-mode coupling near its physical ceiling, while the uncorrected channel varies by more than an order of magnitude. When carried into the downlink budget, this lifts the quantum link across the 11% security bound at 12 of 15 turbulence conditions where the uncorrected link yields no key, thereby restoring a secure quantum bit error rate in a narrow 4.2–4.9% band throughout and a secret key rate of 7.6–11.2 kbit/s while simultaneously widening the margin of the co-propagating classical channel above its forward error correction threshold.
Entanglement is key quantum information processing feature enabling quantum communication, networking, and sensing [1]. Unfortunately, long-distance quantum communication is affected by the photon loss, given that quantum signals cannot be amplified. As an alternative, free-space optical (FSO) links can be used instead for entanglement distribution. However, the FSO links are severely affected by atmospheric turbulence effects, in addition to scattering effects. In this paper, we demonstrate that adaptive optics [2] is a useful tool to improve fidelity of entanglement when entangled states are distributed over turbulent FSO links. We present results from our FSO communication experiment where we generated entangled photons pairs, launched them into free-space, and later collected them for coincidence count measurement. We demonstrate that adaptive optics can be used to make improvements in coincidence counts.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) promises a provably secure method to transmit information from one party to another. Free-space QKD allows for this information to be sent over great distances and in places where fibre-based communications cannot be implemented, such as ground-satellite. The primary limiting factor for free-space links is the effect of atmospheric turbulence, which can result in significant error rates and increased losses in QKD channels. Here, we employ the use of a high-speed Adaptive Optics (AO) system to make real-time corrections to the wavefront distortions on spatial modes that are used for high-dimensional QKD in our turbulent channel. First, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the AO system in improving the coupling efficiency of a Gaussian mode that has propagated through turbulence. Through process tomography, we show that our system is capable of significantly reducing the crosstalk of spatial modes in the channel. Finally, we show that employing AO reduces the quantum dit error rate for a high-dimensional orbital angular momentum-based QKD protocol, allowing for secure communication in a channel where it would otherwise be impossible. These results are promising for establishing long-distance free-space QKD systems. High-dimensional quantum key distribution will allow for higher information density and greater error tolerance in future quantum networks. This work experimentally demonstrates how implementing an adaptive optics system in a spatial-mode free-space optical link can allow for quantum communications where it would otherwise be impossible.
We present the activities of the research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University to implement adaptive optics techniques for quantum communications through a free-space channel. We have developed a portable horizontal quantum key distribution system with adaptive optics and demonstrated improved secret key rates when using AO in a turbulent channel. We also report on development to equip the Mt Stromlo optical communications ground station with an adaptive optics system to enable quantum communication links between the ground and space.
Wavefront of light passing through the turbulent atmosphere gets distorted. This causes signal loss in free-space optical communication as the light beam spreads and wanders at the receiving end. Frequency and/or time division multiplexing adaptive optics (AO) techniques have been used to conjugate this kind of wavefront distortion. However, if the signal beam moves relative to the atmosphere, the AO system performance degrades due to high temporal anisoplanatism. Here, we solve this problem by adding a pioneering beacon that is spatially separated from the signal beam with time delay between spatially separated pulses. More importantly, our protocol works irrespective of the signal beam intensity and, hence, is also applicable to secret quantum communication. In particular, using semi-empirical atmospheric turbulence calculation, we show that for low earth orbit satellite-to-ground decoy state quantum key distribution with the satellite at zenith angle <30°, our method increases the key rate by at least 215% and 40% for satellite altitudes of 400 and 800 km, respectively. Finally, we propose a modification of the existing wavelength division multiplexing systems as an effective alternative solution to this problem.
Abstract For quantum communications, the use of Earth-orbiting satellites to extend distances has gained significant attention in recent years, exemplified in particular by the launch of the Micius satellite in 2016. The performance of applied protocols such as quantum key distribution (QKD) depends significantly on the transmission efficiency through the turbulent atmosphere, which is especially challenging for ground-to-satellite uplink scenarios. Adaptive optics (AO) techniques have been used in astronomical, communication, and other applications to reduce the detrimental effects of turbulence for many years, but their applicability to quantum protocols, and their requirements specifically in the uplink scenario, is not well established. Here, we model the effect of the atmosphere on link efficiency between an Earth station and a satellite using an optical uplink and how AO can help recover from loss due to turbulence. Examining both low Earth orbit and geostationary uplink scenarios, we find that a modest link transmissivity improvement of about 3 dB can be obtained in the case of a coaligned downward beacon, while the link can be dramatically improved, up to 7 dB, using an offset beacon, such as a laser guide star. AO coupled with a laser guide star would thus deliver a significant increase in the secret key generation rate of the QKD ground-to-space uplink system, especially as reductions of channel loss have a favourably nonlinear key-rate response within this high-loss regime.