Title :
Experimental demonstration of an active quantum key distribution network with over gbps clock synchronization
Author :
Ma, Lijun ; Mink, Alan ; Xu, Hai ; Slattery, Oliver ; Tang, Xiao
Author_Institution :
Nat. Inst. of Stand. & Technol., Gaithersburg
fDate :
12/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We demonstrate a three-node QKD network that allows multiple users to share secure keys. This QKD network operates on the 850 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths at 1.25 Gbps clock rate. The communication route is controlled by MEMS optical switches. In this paper, we report the network structure and experimental results including the performance of the optical switch, polarization recovery, and timing alignment technology during switching. This demonstration experimentally shows that QKD can be extended to active multi-node networks.
Keywords :
optical fibre networks; quantum cryptography; synchronisation; telecommunication security; active multi-node networks; active quantum key distribution network; bit rate 1.25 Gbit/s; clock synchronization; network structure; optical switch; polarization recovery; three-node QKD network; timing alignment technology; wavelength 1550 nm; wavelength 850 nm; Clocks; Communication system control; Micromechanical devices; Optical control; Optical devices; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber polarization; Optical switches; Synchronization; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Communications Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LCOMM.2007.071477