Techniques for the distribution of quantum-secured cryptographic keys have
reached a level of maturity allowing them to be implemented in all kinds of
environments, away from any form of laboratory infrastructure. Here, we detail
the distribution of entanglement between Malta and Sicily over a 96 km-long
submarine telecommunications optical fibre cable. We used this standard
telecommunications fibre as a quantum channel to distribute
polarisation-entangled photons and were able to observe around 257 photon pairs
per second, with a polarisation visibility above 90%. Our experiment
demonstrates the feasibility of using deployed submarine telecommunications
optical fibres as long-distance quantum channels for polarisation-entangled
photons. This opens up a plethora of possibilities for future experiments and
technological applications using existing infrastructure.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Bo, Liu

Calonico, Davide

Dobrovolskiy, Sergiy M.

Hübel, Hannes

Inguscio, Massimo

Joshi, Siddarth Koduru

Los, Johannes W.N.

Mura, Alberto

Scheidl, Thomas

Steinlechner, Fabian

Ursin, Rupert

van der Molen, René

Versteegh, Marijn A.M.

Wengerowsky, Sören

Xuereb, André

Zeilinger, Anton

Zichi, Julien R.

Zwiller, Val

English

arXiv

Quantum entanglement is one of the most extraordinary effects in quantum physics, with many applications in the emerging field of quantum information science. In particular, it provides the foundation for quantum key distribution (QKD), which promises a conceptual leap in information security. Entanglement-based QKD holds great promise for future applications owing to the possibility of device-independent security and the potential of establishing global-scale quantum repeater networks. While other approaches to QKD have already reached the level of maturity required for operation in absence of typical laboratory infrastructure, comparable field demonstrations of entanglement-based QKD have not been performed so far. Here, we report on the successful distribution of polarization-entangled photon pairs between Malta and Sicily over 96 km of submarine optical telecommunications fiber. We observe around 257 photon pairs per second, with a polarization visibility above 90%. Our results show that QKD based on polarization entanglement is now indeed viable in long-distance fiber links. This field demonstration marks the longest-distance distribution of entanglement in a deployed telecommunications network and demonstrates an international submarine quantum communication channel. This opens up myriad possibilities for future experiments and technological applications using existing infrastructure.peer-reviewe

Wengerowsky, Soren

Koduru Joshia, Siddarth

Steinlechnera, Fabian

Zichig, Julien R.

Dobrovolskiyh, Sergiy M.

Van der Molen, Rene

Losh, Johannes W. N.

Zwillerg, Val

Versteeghg, Marijn A. M.

Murai, Alberto

Calonicoi, Davide

Inguscioj, Massimo

Hubel, Hannes

Boa, Liu

Scheidla, Thomas

Zeilingera, Anton

Xuereb, Andre

OAR@UM

Entanglement distribution over a 96-km-long submarine optical fiber

Quantum entanglement is one of the most extraordinary effects in quantum physics, with many applications in the emerging field of quantum information science. In particular, it provides the foundation for quantum key distribution (QKD), which promises a conceptual leap in information security. Entanglement-based QKD holds great promise for future applications owing to the possibility of device-independent security and the potential of establishing global-scale quantum repeater networks. While other approaches to QKD have already reached the level of maturity required for operation in absence of typical laboratory infrastructure, comparable field demonstrations of entanglement-based QKD have not been performed so far. Here, we report on the successful distribution of polarization-entangled photon pairs between Malta and Sicily over 96 km of submarine optical telecommunications fiber. We observe around 257 photon pairs per second, with a polarization visibility above 90%. Our results show that QKD based on polarization entanglement is now indeed viable in long-distance fiber links. This field demonstration marks the longest-distance distribution of entanglement in a deployed telecommunications network and demonstrates an international submarine quantum communication channel. This opens up myriad possibilities for future experiments and technological applications using existing infrastructure.</p

Explore Bristol Research

Wengerowsky, Soeren,

Joshi, Siddarth Koduru,

Steinlechner, Fabian,

Zichi, Julien,

Dobrovolskiy, Sergiy M.,

van der Molen, Rene,

Los, Johannes W. N.,

Zwiller, Val,

Versteegh, Marijn A. M.,

Mura, Alberto,

Calonico, Davide,

Inguscio, Massimo,

Huebel, Hannes,

Bo, Liu,

Scheidl, Thomas,

Zeilinger, Anton,

Xuereb, Andre,

Ursin, Rupert,

Swepub

Quantum entanglement is one of the most extraordinary effects in quantum physics, with many applications in the emerging field of quantum information science. In particular, it provides the foundation for quantum key distribution (QKD), which promises a conceptual leap in information security. Entanglement-based QKD holds great promise for future applications owing to the possibility of device-independent security and the potential of establishing global-scale quantum repeater networks. While other approaches to QKD have already reached the level of maturity required for operation in absence of typical laboratory infrastructure, comparable field demonstrations of entanglement-based QKD have not been performed so far. Here, we report on the successful distribution of polarization-entangled photon pairs between Malta and Sicily over 96 km of submarine optical telecommunications fiber. We observe around 257 photon pairs per second, with a polarization visibility above 90%. Our results show that QKD based on polarization entanglement is now indeed viable in long-distance fiber links. This field demonstration marks the longest-distance distribution of entanglement in a deployed telecommunications network and demonstrates an international submarine quantum communication channel. This opens up myriad possibilities for future experiments and technological applications using existing infrastructure

Wengerowsky, Sören

Zichi, Julien R

Dobrovolskiy, Sergiy M

van der Molen, René

Los, Johannes W N

Versteegh, Marijn A M

Hübel, Hannes

Xuereb, André

METRICA Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - INRIM

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/198005147/Full_text_PDF_final_published_version_.pdf