Quantum key distribution over 100 km of underwater optical fiber assisted by a fast-gated single-photon detector

Year: 2023

Authors: Ribezzo D., Zahidy M., Lemmi G., Petitjean A., De Lazzari C., Vagniluca I., Conca E., Tosi A., Occhipinti T., Oxenlowe LK., Xuereb A., Bacco D., Zavatta A.

Autors Affiliation: CNR, INO, Ist Nazl Ottica, I-50125 Florence, Italy; Univ Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy; Tech Univ Denmark, Ctr Excellence Silicon Photon Opt Commun SPOC, Dept Elect & Photon Engn, Lyngby, Denmark; QTI Srl, I-50125 Florence, Italy; Politecn Milan, Dipartimento Elettron Informaz & Bioingn, I-20133 Milan, Italy; Tech Univ Denmark, Ctr Silicon Photon Opt Commun SPOC, Dept Photon Engn, Lyngby, Denmark; Univ Malta, Dept Phys, MSD-2080 Msida, Malta; Merqury Cybersecur Ltd, Msida, Malta; Univ Florence, Dept Phys & Astron, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

Abstract: Nowadays quantum key distribution (QKD) represents the most mature quantum technology, and multiple countries as well as private institutions are building their quantum network. However, QKD devices are still far from representing a product within everyone’s reach. Indeed, limitations in terms of compatibility with existing telecom infrastructure and limited performances in terms of secret key rate, using noncryogenic detection systems, are still critical. In this work, we implemented a quantum key distribution link between Sicily (Italy) and Malta utilizing two different single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors. The performances of a standard commercial SPAD have been compared with the results achieved with an alternative prototype of fast-gated system in a package (SIP) SPAD; the SIP detector has shown to be able to accomplish a 14 times higher key rate compared with the commercial device over the channel showing 20 dB of losses.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED

Volume: 20 (4)      Pages from: 44052-1  to: 44052-8

More Information: This work was partially supported by the Center of Excellence SPOC (Ref. DNRF123), Innovations fonden project Fire-Q (No. 9090-00031B), the NATO Science for Peace and Security program (Grant No. G5485, Project SEQUEL), the programme Rita Levi Montalcini QOMUNE (PGR19GKW5T), the EraNET Cofund Initiatives QuantERA within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program Grant Agreement No. 731473 (Project SQUARE), the Project EQUO (European QUantum ecOsystems), which is funded by the European Commission in the Digital Europe Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101091561, the Project SER-ICS (PE00000014) under the MUR National Recovery and Resilience Plan funded by the European Union -NextGenerationEU, the Project QuONTENT under the Progetti di Ricerca@CNR program funded by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) and by the European Union – PON Ricerca e Innovazione 2014-2020 FESR – Project ARS01_00734 QUANCOM, the Project QUID (Quantum Italy Deployment) funded by the European Commission in the Digital Europe Programme under the grant agreement No. 101091408.
KeyWords: Secure
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.20.044052

Citations: 4
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