In a typical QKD set-up, the photons are generated by a single photon source, encoded into binary values (i.e., representing "0" and "1") and then transmitted to the receiver either via optical fibers or in free space. The receiver then decodes the state of photons and detects them using single photon sensitive detectors and time-tagging electronics. There are several methods for encoding and decoding the photons:
- via polarization: the binary information "1" or "0" is defined by the polarization of the single photons, e.g., binary "0" correlates with the horizontally polarized photon and binary "1" with vertically polarized photon
- via the phase, which requires the use of a interferometer system: the phase difference Δφ = φAlice - φBob of the two interferometers is then used for encoding the binary values, e.g., a phase difference Δφ=0 correlates with the binary "0" and the phase difference Δφ=π correlates with the binary "1"
- via entangled photons, which requires one sender of entangled photon pairs and two receivers (Alice and Bob) each equipped with a polarizer. Alice and Bob set the two angles at their respective polarization rotator randomly. If the angles of Alice and Bob match, both photons behave exactly the same at the beam splitter, i.e., they are either transmitted (binary "1") or reflected (binary "0").
PicoQuant offers several instruments such as time-tagging units and single photon sensitive detectors that can be used to build a quantum key distribution system:
MultiHarp 150
High-Throughput Multichannel Event Timer & TCSPC Unit
- 4, 8, or 16 independent input channels and common sync channel (up to 1.2 GHz)
- High sustained data throughput (80 Mcps in time tagging mode, 180 Mcps in histogramming mode)
- Record-breaking dead time (650 ps) per channel
- No dead time across channels
HydraHarp 400
Multichannel Picosecond Event Timer & TCSPC Module
- Up to 8 independent input channels and common synch channel (up to 150 MHz)
- Time channel width of 1 ps
- Time tagging with sustained count rates up to 40 Mcps
- USB 3.0 connection
PicoHarp 300
Stand-alone Dual-channel Picosecond Event Timer & TCSPC Module with USB Interface
- Two identical synchronized but independent input channels
- Time channel width of 4 ps
- Time tagging with sustained count rates up to 5 Mcps
- USB 2.0 connection
TimeHarp 260
TCSPC and MCS board with PCIe interface
- One or two independent input channels and common synch channel (up to 84 MHz)
- Two models with either 25 ps (PICO model) or 1 ns (NANO model) base resolution
- Ultra short dead time (< 25 ns for PICO model, < 1 ns for NANO model)
- PCIe interface
PDM Series
Single Photon Avalanche Diodes
- Timing resolution down to < 50 ps (FWHM)
- Detection efficiency up to 49%
- Different active areas: 20, 50, and 100 µm
- Ultra stable at high count rates
QuCoa
Quantum Correlation Analysis Software
- Antibunching (g(2)) measurements including fitting to several models
- Coincidence counting / event filtering, using AND, OR, NOT operators
- Preview of antibunching curve and correlation data during measurement
- Remote control via TCP/IP Interface
The following presentations are related to quantum communication and were recorded at our International Symposium on "Single Photon based Quantum Technologies" in September 2020.
Latest 10 publications related to Quantum Communication
The following list is an extract of 10 recent publications from our bibliography that either bear reference or are releated to this application and our products in some way. Do you miss your publication? If yes, we will be happy to include it in our bibliography. Please send an e-mail to info@picoquant.com containing the appropriate citation. Thank you very much in advance for your kind co-operation.