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Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition

Resource-efficient quantum key distribution with using integrated silicon photonics

Kejin Wei, Xiao Hu, Yongqiang Du, Xin Hua, Zhengeng Zhao, Ye Chen, Chunfeng Huang, Xi Xiao

Published Jan 1, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report a demonstration of resource-efficient chip-based BB84 QKD with a silicon-based encoder and decoder. The system enables realizing secure key distribution at a rate of 866 bps over a commercial fiber channel up to 150 km.
DOI
10.1364/quantum.2023.qm3b.6

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Integrated photonics provides a promising platform for quantum key distribution (QKD) system in terms of miniaturization, robustness, and scalability. Tremendous QKD works based on integrated photonics have been reported. Nonetheless, most current chip-based QKD implementations require additional off-chip hardware to demodulate quantum states or perform auxiliary tasks such as time synchronization and polarization basis tracking. Here, we report a demonstration of resource-efficient chip-based BB84 QKD with a silicon-based encoder and a decoder. In our scheme, the time synchronization and polarization compensation are implemented relying on the preparation and measurement of the quantum states generated by on-chip devices; thus, we need no additional hardware. The experimental tests show that our scheme is highly stable with a low intrinsic quantum bit error rate of 0.50 % ±0.02 % in a 6 h continuous run. Furthermore, over a commercial fiber channel up to 150 km, the system enables the realization of secure key distribution at a rate of 866 bit/s. Our demonstration paves the way for a low-cost, wafer-scale manufactured QKD system.
Photonic chip integration would greatly benefit quantum key distribution (QKD) systems for secure communication, in terms of compactness, scalability, and well-established fabrication techniques. This study demonstrates proof of concept for an all-chip measurement-device-independent QKD system using integrated silicon photonic technology. The prototype generates a key rate per pulse of $2.923\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ over a distance corresponding to 50 km of standard fiber with 25% detection efficiency; the system is projected to be able to work at 120 km with 85% detection efficiency. This technology shows great promise for highly integrated quantum communication networks.
Silicon-based polarization-encoding quantum key distribution (QKD) has been widely studied, owing to its low cost and robustness. However, prior studies have utilized off-chip devices to demodulate the quantum states or perform polarization compensation, given the difficulty of fabricating polarized independent components on the chip. In this paper, we propose a fully chip-based decoder for polarization-encoding QKD. The chip realizes a polarization state analyzer and compensates for the BB84 protocol without requiring additional hardware. It is based on a polarization-to-path conversion method that uses a polarization splitter-rotator. The chip was fabricated using a standard silicon photonics foundry; it has a compact design and is suitable for mass production. In the experimental stability test, an average quantum bit error rate of 0.56%0.56\%0.56% was achieved through continuous operation for 10 h without any polarization feedback. Furthermore, using the developed feedback algorithm, the chip enabled the automatic compensation of the fiber polarization drift, which was emulated by a random fiber polarization scrambler. In the case of the QKD demonstration, we obtained a finite-key secret rate of 240 bps over a fiber spool of 100 km. This study represents an important step toward the integrated, practical, and large-scale deployment of QKD systems.
We present a silicon optical transmitter for polarization-encoded quantum key distribution (QKD). The chip was fabricated in a standard silicon photonic foundry process and integrated a pulse generator, intensity modulator, variable optical attenuator, and polarization modulator in a 1.3 mm ×\times× 3 mm die area. The devices in the photonic circuit meet the requirements for QKD. The transmitter was used in a proof-of-concept demonstration of the BB84 QKD protocol over a 5 km long fiber link.