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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Demonstration of Reference Frame Independent Time Bin Quantum Key Distribution

Ramy Tannous, Wilson Wu, Stephane Vinet, Chithrabhanu Perumangatt, Dogan Sinar, Alexander Ling, Thomas D. Jennewein

Published Jan 1, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present the experimental results of the first reference frame independent time bin quantum key distribution. Despite a lack of active phase stabilization of the interferometers, 0.078 asymptotic secret key bits per second were generated.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_qels.2022.ftu4a.2

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Encoding quantum information in photonic time-bin states is typically considered impractical for moving free-space quantum communication due to the difficulties with phase stabilization of distant quantum time-bin interferometers and turbulence of free-space channels. We demonstrate a novel approach using reference frame independent time-bin quantum key distribution that completely avoids the need for active relative phase stabilization while simultaneously overcoming a highly multi-mode channel without any active mode filtering. This scheme enables passive, self-compensating time-bin quantum communication without any mode filtering, mode sorting, adaptive optics, active basis selection, or active phase alignment. We realize a proof-of-concept demonstration using hybrid polarization and time-bin entangled photons that demonstrates a sustained asymptotic secure key rate greater than 0.07 bits/coincidence over a 15 m multi-mode fiber optical channel and showing entanglement correlations over a moving 38.5 dB loss free-space channel, including system losses. The scheme simplifies the use of time-bin encoding and can be readily applied over various spatially multi-mode and fluctuating channels involving rapidly moving platforms, including airborne and satellite systems.
Quantum key distribution allows for a provably secure transmission of cryptographic keys over an optical channel. Encoded polarization states or time-bin degree of freedom have been used for successful demonstrations. However, photon losses in long fibers, slow single photon detectors, and detector dark counts significantly limit the overall bit rate. Improving key throughput and reducing the overhead of key reconciliation remain as major challenges. Methods which utilize multiple time bins allow for multiple key bits to be encoded in a single photon, thus increasing the fidelity of transmitted keys and decreasing the overhead of key reconciliation in real-world conditions. Previous implementations of these methods required that Alice and Bob share a time reference by sharing a dedicated classical channel used for synchronization. This work presents a technique that allows two parties to exchange time-bin encoded photons without the need for synchronized time references. Our technique uses a framing protocol which allows Alice to encode a time reference along with a key which is determined by Alice before transmission. Security can be achieved by monitoring the visibility of a pair of Franson interferometers, using decoy pulses and measuring the round trip time between Alice and Bob. The bit rate of this technique is limited only by the recovery time of the detector and the speed of the modulation electronics. We experimentally demonstrate a raw bit rate of 5Mb/s over an optical channel with 55dB of loss, which is competitive with current research. We also demonstrate absolute timing synchronization with an accuracy of 20ps.
Reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution (RFI-QKD) has been proposed as a method to avoid the requirement of real-time alignment of reference frames. However, the source flaw has not been considered in most of the previously reported works. In this paper, based on the analysis of Wang et al. [Phys. Rev. A 92, 042319 (2015)], we perform a proof-of-concept experiment to demonstrate the loss-tolerant RFI-QKD by constructing a time-bin phase-encoded system and quantifying its source flaws. Moreover, the finite-key analysis is taken into account while estimating the secure key rate. Our experimental demonstration makes a positive contribution to the realization of quantum cryptography in a complex and imperfect real-world environment.