光极限探测技术在空间通信中的应用

The application of photon-limit detection to communication in space

光是人类最早的科学研究对象之一,光子是光的最小能量单元,具备量子的基本特征。随着科学技术发展,人类已经能够实现对单个光子的极限探测。光的常规探测已经普遍应用于地面光纤通信中,而光的极限探测则在空间量子通信及深空超远距离光通信中具备重要的应用价值。文章介绍了光极限探测技术在空间量子科学实验、空间光子通信中的典型应用及涉及的核心技术。

Light was one of the earliest scientific research subjects of mankind.A photon is the smallest unit of light energy and has basic quantum characteristics.With the development of science and technology,human beings have been able to reach the limit of detecting a single photon.The conventional detection of light has been widely used in ground level optical fiber communication,but the detection of light at the single-photon limit has important application in free space quantum communication and ultralong distance deep space optical communication.This paper introduces the typical applications and core technologies of photon detection technology in quantum science experiments and photonic communication in space.