A fast and versatile quantum key distribution system with hardware key distillation and wavelength multiplexing

N Walenta; A Burg; D Caselunghe; J Constantin; N Gisin; O Guinnard; R Houlmann; P Junod; B Korzh; N Kulesza; M Legré; C W Lim; T Lunghi; L Monat; C Portmann; M Soucarros; R T Thew; P Trinkler; G Trolliet; F Vannel; H Zbinden

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013047

New Journal of Physics (Jan 2014)

A fast and versatile quantum key distribution system with hardware key distillation and wavelength multiplexing

N Walenta,
A Burg,
D Caselunghe,
J Constantin,
N Gisin,
O Guinnard,
R Houlmann,
P Junod,
B Korzh,
N Kulesza,
M Legré,
C W Lim,
T Lunghi,
L Monat,
C Portmann,
M Soucarros,
R T Thew,
P Trinkler,
G Trolliet,
F Vannel,
H Zbinden

Affiliations

N Walenta: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
A Burg: Telecommunications Circuits Laboratory, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
D Caselunghe: idQuantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
J Constantin: Telecommunications Circuits Laboratory, EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
N Gisin: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
O Guinnard: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
R Houlmann: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
P Junod: University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland in Yverdon-les-Bains (HEIG-VD) , Route de Cheseaux 1, CH-1401 Yverdon, Switzerland
B Korzh: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
N Kulesza: idQuantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
M Legré: idQuantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
C W Lim: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
T Lunghi: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
L Monat: idQuantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
C Portmann: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Institute for Theoretical Physics , ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, D-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
M Soucarros: idQuantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
R T Thew: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
P Trinkler: idQuantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
G Trolliet: University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland in Geneva (Hepia) , Rue de la Prairie 4, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
F Vannel: University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland in Geneva (Hepia) , Rue de la Prairie 4, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
H Zbinden: Group of Applied Physics-Optique, University of Geneva , Chemin de Pinchat 22, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013047
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 1
p. 013047

Abstract

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We present a compactly integrated, 625 MHz clocked coherent one-way quantum key distribution system which continuously distributes secret keys over an optical fibre link. To support high secret key rates, we implemented a fast hardware key distillation engine which allows for key distillation rates up to 4 Mbps in real time. The system employs wavelength multiplexing in order to run over only a single optical fibre. Using fast gated InGaAs single photon detectors, we reliably distribute secret keys with a rate above 21 kbps over 25 km of optical fibre. We optimized the system considering a security analysis that respects finite-key-size effects, authentication costs and system errors for a security parameter of ε _QKD = 4 × 10 ^−9 .

Published in New Journal of Physics

ISSN: 1367-2630 (Online)
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1367-2630

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