29 research outputs found
Novel High-Speed Polarization Source for Decoy-State BB84 Quantum Key Distribution over Free Space and Satellite Links
To implement the BB84 decoy-state quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol
over a lossy ground-satellite quantum uplink requires a source that has high
repetition rate of short laser pulses, long term stability, and no phase
correlations between pulses. We present a new type of telecom optical
polarization and amplitude modulator, based on a balanced Mach-Zehnder
interferometer configuration, coupled to a polarization-preserving
sum-frequency generation (SFG) optical setup, generating 532 nm photons with
modulated polarization and amplitude states. The weak coherent pulses produced
by SFG meet the challenging requirements for long range QKD, featuring a high
clock rate of 76 MHz, pico-second pulse width, phase randomization, and 98%
polarization visibility for all states. Successful QKD has been demonstrated
using this apparatus with full system stability up to 160 minutes and channel
losses as high 57 dB [Phys. Rev. A, Vol. 84, p.062326]. We present the design
and simulation of the hardware through the Mueller matrix and Stokes vector
relations, together with an experimental implementation working in the telecom
wavelength band. We show the utility of the complete system by performing high
loss QKD simulations, and confirm that our modulator fulfills the expected
performance.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures and 2 table
Experimental quantum key distribution with simulated ground-to-satellite photon losses and processing limitations
Quantum key distribution (QKD) has the potential to improve communications
security by offering cryptographic keys whose security relies on the
fundamental properties of quantum physics. The use of a trusted quantum
receiver on an orbiting satellite is the most practical near-term solution to
the challenge of achieving long-distance (global-scale) QKD, currently limited
to a few hundred kilometers on the ground. This scenario presents unique
challenges, such as high photon losses and restricted classical data
transmission and processing power due to the limitations of a typical satellite
platform. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of such a system by implementing
a QKD protocol, with optical transmission and full post-processing, in the
high-loss regime using minimized computing hardware at the receiver. Employing
weak coherent pulses with decoy states, we demonstrate the production of secure
key bits at up to 56.5 dB of photon loss. We further illustrate the feasibility
of a satellite uplink by generating secure key while experimentally emulating
the varying channel losses predicted for realistic low-Earth-orbit satellite
passes at 600 km altitude. With a 76 MHz source and including finite-size
analysis, we extract 3374 bits of secure key from the best pass. We also
illustrate the potential benefit of combining multiple passes together: while
one suboptimal "upper-quartile" pass produces no finite-sized key with our
source, the combination of three such passes allows us to extract 165 bits of
secure key. Alternatively, we find that by increasing the signal rate to 300
MHz it would be possible to extract 21570 bits of secure finite-sized key in
just a single upper-quartile pass.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 table
Mitigating radiation damage of single photon detectors for space applications
Single-photon detectors in space must retain useful performance
characteristics despite being bombarded with sub-atomic particles. Mitigating
the effects of this space radiation is vital to enabling new space applications
which require high-fidelity single-photon detection. To this end, we conducted
proton radiation tests of various models of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and
one model of photomultiplier tube potentially suitable for satellite-based
quantum communications. The samples were irradiated with 106 MeV protons at
doses approximately equivalent to lifetimes of 0.6 , 6, 12 and 24 months in a
low-Earth polar orbit. Although most detection properties were preserved,
including efficiency, timing jitter and afterpulsing probability, all APD
samples demonstrated significant increases in dark count rate (DCR) due to
radiation-induced damage, many orders of magnitude higher than the 200 counts
per second (cps) required for ground-to-satellite quantum communications. We
then successfully demonstrated the mitigation of this DCR degradation through
the use of deep cooling, to as low as -86 degrees C. This achieved DCR below
the required 200 cps over the 24 months orbit duration. DCR was further reduced
by thermal annealing at temperatures of +50 to +100 degrees C.Comment: The license has been corrected. Note that the license of v2 was
incorrect and not valid. No other changes since v
Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites -- reaching relativistic distances and velocities
Physical theories are developed to describe phenomena in particular regimes,
and generally are valid only within a limited range of scales. For example,
general relativity provides an effective description of the Universe at large
length scales, and has been tested from the cosmic scale down to distances as
small as 10 meters. In contrast, quantum theory provides an effective
description of physics at small length scales. Direct tests of quantum theory
have been performed at the smallest probeable scales at the Large Hadron
Collider, meters, up to that of hundreds of kilometers. Yet,
such tests fall short of the scales required to investigate potentially
significant physics that arises at the intersection of quantum and relativistic
regimes. We propose to push direct tests of quantum theory to larger and larger
length scales, approaching that of the radius of curvature of spacetime, where
we begin to probe the interaction between gravity and quantum phenomena. In
particular, we review a wide variety of potential tests of fundamental physics
that are conceivable with artificial satellites in Earth orbit and elsewhere in
the solar system, and attempt to sketch the magnitudes of potentially
observable effects. The tests have the potential to determine the applicability
of quantum theory at larger length scales, eliminate various alternative
physical theories, and place bounds on phenomenological models motivated by
ideas about spacetime microstructure from quantum gravity. From a more
pragmatic perspective, as quantum communication technologies such as quantum
key distribution advance into Space towards large distances, some of the
fundamental physical effects discussed here may need to be taken into account
to make such schemes viable.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figures. Journal version, modified to respond to numerous
suggestion
The association of depression and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Background: Depression is a prevalent and disabling mental disorder that frequently co-occurs with a wide range of chronic conditions. Evidence has suggested that depression could be associated with excess all-cause mortality across different settings and populations, although the causality of these associations remains unclear. Methods: We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies. PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase electronic databases were searched through January 20, 2018. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that investigated associations of depression and all-cause and cause-specific mortality were selected for the review. The evidence was graded as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, or weak based on quantitative criteria that included an assessment of heterogeneity, 95% prediction intervals, small-study effects, and excess significance bias. Results: A total of 26 references providing 2 systematic reviews and data for 17 meta-analytic estimates met inclusion criteria (19 of them on all-cause mortality); data from 246 unique studies (N = 3,825,380) were synthesized. All 17 associations had P < 0.05 per random effects summary effects, but none of them met criteria for convincing evidence. Associations of depression and all-cause mortality in patients after acute myocardial infarction, in individuals with heart failure, in cancer patients as well as in samples from mixed settings met criteria for highly suggestive evidence. However, none of the associations remained supported by highly suggestive evidence in sensitivity analyses that considered studies employing structured diagnostic interviews. In addition, associations of depression and all-cause mortality in cancer and post-acute myocardial infarction samples were supported only by suggestive evidence when studies that tried to adjust for potential confounders were considered. Conclusions: Even though associations between depression and mortality have nominally significant results in all assessed settings and populations, the evidence becomes weaker when focusing on studies that used structured interviews and those that tried to adjust for potential confounders. A causal effect of depression on all-cause and cause-specific mortality remains unproven, and thus interventions targeting depression are not expected to result in lower mortality rates at least based on current evidence from observational studies
Functional parameters indicative of mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review using instrumented kinematic assessment
Background:
Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience alterations of functional parameters, such as an impaired balance or gait. The current systematic review set out to investigate whether functional objective performance may predict a future risk of MCI; to compare functional objective parameters in patients with MCI and a control group; and to assess changes in these parameters after different physical activity interventions.
Methods:
Electronic databases, including PubMed, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro and Web of Science as well as grey literature databases, were searched from inception to February 2020. Cohort studies and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were included. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed independently by reviewers using quality assessment checklists. The level of evidence per outcome was assessed using the GRADE criteria.
Results:
Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria including patients with MCI. Results from RCTs suggested that gait speed, gait variability and balance may be improved by different physical activity interventions. Cohort studies showed that slower gait speed, above all, under Dual Task (DT) conditions, was the main impaired parameter in patients with MCI in comparison with a Control Gorup. Furthermore, cohort studies suggested that gait variability could predict an incident MCI. Although most of included cohort studies reported low risk of bias, RCTs showed an unclear risk of bias.
Conclusions:
Studies suggest that gait variability may predict an incident MCI. Moreover, different gait parameters, above all under DT conditions, could be impaired in patients with MCI. These parameters could be improved by some physical activity interventions. Although cohort studies reported low risk of bias, RCTs showed an unclear risk of bias and GRADE criteria showed a low level of evidence per outcome, so further studies are required to refute our findings