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Time-Bin Photonic Qudits for Entanglement-Based Quantum Key Distribution Protocols

Stefania Sciara, Hao Yu, Mario Chemnitz, Nicola Montaut, Benjamin Crockett, Bennet Fischer, Robin Helsten, Benjamin Wetzel, Thorsten A. Goebel, Ria G. Krämer, Brent E. Little, Sai T. Chu, Stefan Nolte, Zhiming Wang, José Azaña, William J. Munro, David Moss, Roberto Morandotti

Published Jan 1, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We demonstrate the Bennett-Brassard-Mermin 1992 quantum key distribution protocol with time-bin entangled photonic qudits over a 60-km-long optical fiber link. The on-chip framework utilized therein addresses low effective qudit rates associated with time-bin encoding schemes.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_fs.2025.ff114_4

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High-dimensional photon states (qudits) are pivotal to enhance the information capacity, noise robustness, and data rates of quantum communications. Time-bin entangled qudits are promising candidates for implementing high-dimensional quantum communications over optical fiber networks with processing rates approaching those of classical telecommunications. However, their use is hindered by phase instability, timing inaccuracy, and low scalability of interferometric schemes needed for time-bin processing. As well, increasing the number of time bins per photon state typically requires decreasing the repetition rate of the system, affecting in turn the effective qudit rates. Here, we demonstrate a fiber-pigtailed, integrated photonic platform enabling the generation and processing of picosecond-spaced time-bin entangled qudits in the telecommunication C band via an on-chip interferometry system. We experimentally demonstrate the Bennett-Brassard-Mermin 1992 quantum key distribution protocol with time-bin entangled qudits and extend it over a 60 km-long optical fiber link, by showing dimensionality scaling without sacrificing the repetition rate. Our approach enables the manipulation of time-bin entangled qudits at processing speeds typical of standard telecommunications (10 s of GHz) with high quantum information capacity per single frequency channel, representing an important step towards an efficient implementation of high-data rate quantum communications in standard, multi-user optical fiber networks.
Encoding quantum information into time-bin entangled photons offers a physics-rich framework for both fundamental and applied quantum science. Here, we present two frameworks enabling the generation and manipulation of time-bin entangled photonic qudits for both fundamental and applied quantum information processing. The first framework consists of a scalable synthetic temporal photonic lattice implemented on a coupled fiber-loop system that is employed to explore and dynamically control the evolution of the discrete-time quantum walk of time-bin entangled photon states. The other framework consists of a modular, fiber-pigtailed, integrated photonic platform enabling the generation and processing of time-bin entangled qudits that were used to demonstrate the first Bennett-Brassard-Mermin 1992 QKD protocol extended to qudits. We operate the entangled qudits at processing speeds typical of standard telecommunication systems at 10s of GBaud.
Abstract High-dimensional quantum key distribution (QKD) based on entangled qudits has emerged as a promising route for advancing the performance and practicality of quantum communication. By extending beyond the qubit framework, qudit entanglement enables the encoding of multiple bits per particle and offers greater robustness against noise, loss, and eavesdropping. In this review, we present qudit-based entanglement QKD protocols and their experimental demonstrations. We first introduce the basic concepts of qudits and provide an overview of foundational qubit-based entanglement QKD schemes, such as Ekert '91 (E91) and Bennett–Brassard–Mermin '92 (BBM92), which establish the core principles of entanglement-based secure key generation. Subsequently, we examine the generalization of these protocols to entangled qudits, highlighting how higher dimensionality enhances secure key rates and noise tolerance. Finally, we survey experimental demonstrations of qudit-based entanglement QKD across photonic platforms and outline prospects, showing that high-dimensional entanglement can be reliably generated, distributed, and measured for QKD with high stability and scalability. Remarkably, these achievements not only verify the feasibility of practical high-dimensional QKD, but also demonstrate clear advantages over qubit-based systems. Overall, theoretical frameworks and experimental realizations reviewed here position photonic qudit-based entanglement QKD as a promising resource for scalable, high-speed, and secure quantum communication networks, unveiling its potential as a central component in the future of quantum information technologies.
Encoding information in time-bin entangled photonic systems enables the implementation of quantum technologies that are compatible with both integrated and fiber frameworks. Extending such an encoding to high-dimensional (qudit) time-bin entanglement provides a tool towards scaling the information capacity, noise resilience, and scalability of information processing. Here, we demonstrate scalable time-bin entangled qudits in a programmable photonic chip, as well as in a fully fibered coupled loop system.
Time-entanglement is a promising resource for the implementation of quantum communications over standard fiber networks. In particular, photonic qudits can enhance the performance of quantum communication, including quantum key distribution, in terms of noise robustness, quantum information content, distance reach, as well as security and secret key rates. However, time-entangled photonic qudits are not ready yet to be fully exploited for quantum communications in fiber networks that are fully compatible with standard telecommunication architecture. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of telecommunication-compatible quantum communications based on picosecond-spaced time-entangled qudits. To this end, we make use of an integrated photonic chip comprising a cascade of programmable interferometers and a spiral waveguide. We use entangled qudits to implement high-speed quantum key distribution, chip-to-chip entanglement distribution, and quantum state propagation over 60 km of standard fiber. Our results show the potential of time-entangled qudits for high-speed quantum communications in telecommunication-compatible architecture.