A quantum key distribution system for optical fiber networks

Richard J. Hughes; Thomas E. Chapuran; Nicholas Dallmann; Philip A. Hiskett; Kevin P. McCabe; Paul M. Montano; Jane E. Nordholt; Charles G. Peterson; Robert J. Runser; Robert Sedillo; Kush Tyagi; Christopher C. Wipf

doi:10.1117/12.615594

24 August 2005 A quantum key distribution system for optical fiber networks

Richard J. Hughes, Thomas E. Chapuran, Nicholas Dallmann, Philip A. Hiskett, Kevin P. McCabe, Paul M. Montano, Jane E. Nordholt, Charles G. Peterson, Robert J. Runser, Robert Sedillo, Kush Tyagi, Christopher C. Wipf

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5893, Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging III; 589301 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.615594
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A novel, user-friendly quantum key distribution (QKD) system operating at a wavelength of 1550nm and at a clock rate of 10MHz was constructed to explore the compatibility of this emerging technology with the optical fiber network environment. Custom circuit boards providing the low-level control and sensing functions for both the transmitter and receiver were developed, allowing software-based system reconfiguration via USB interface to personal computers. The computer control allowed the user to change operating parameters such as detector bias voltages and pulse delays and also allowed for self-tuning of the system. Epitaxx avalanche photodiodes, operated in Geiger mode, were used to detect the single photons. A complete QKD protocol stack incorporating the "sifting", reconciliation, privacy amplification, authentication and key confirmation functions was implemented in software. The system was tested over twenty five kilometers of dark underground fiber, producing 18.6 million sifted bits, with a sifted bit error rate of 4.9% at an average number of photons per pulse of 0.2, during a continuous 12-hour period of self-sustaining operation: a small portion of the secret bits distilled from each session's sifted bits were used to authenticate the next session. A total of 6.8 million shared secret bits were produced.

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Richard J. Hughes, Thomas E. Chapuran, Nicholas Dallmann, Philip A. Hiskett, Kevin P. McCabe, Paul M. Montano, Jane E. Nordholt, Charles G. Peterson, Robert J. Runser, Robert Sedillo, Kush Tyagi, and Christopher C. Wipf "A quantum key distribution system for optical fiber networks", Proc. SPIE 5893, Quantum Communications and Quantum Imaging III, 589301 (24 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.615594

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