Application of a new time-correlated single photon counting instrument in a fiber-based quantum cryptography system

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Abstract

We present a fiber-based Quantum Cryptography (QC) system in which data is acquired by utilizing a new Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) instrument. This device captures single photon events on two synchronized channels with picosecond resolution over virtually unlimited time spans and with extremely short dead-times (<95ns). The QC system operates at a wavelength of 1550nm and employs an interferometric approach in which quantum-level information is encoded in the relative phase shift between pairs of faint optical pulses generated by a strongly attenuated semiconductor laser. The QC channel and three additional conventional data channels are carried over a single transmission fiber using a coarse wavelength division-multiplexing (CWDM) scheme with a 20nm channel separation. We assess the impact of the various sources of errors in the system, such as imperfect interference visibility, detector dark counts and Raman scattering in the transmission fiber. Secure key distributions with mean photon numbers of 0.1 and 0.2 per pulse pair were demonstrated for transmission distances up to 25km and 38km respectively.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvanced Photon Counting Techniques
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
EventAdvanced Photon Counting Techniques - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: 1 Oct 20063 Oct 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6372
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceAdvanced Photon Counting Techniques
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period1/10/063/10/06

Keywords

  • Optical fiber communications
  • Quantum cryptography
  • Quantum key distribution
  • Time correlated single photon counting
  • Wavelength division multiplexing

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