Quantum technology establishes a foundation for secure communication via quantum key distribution （QKD）. In the last two decades, the rapid development of QKD makes a global quantum communication network feasible. I...Quantum technology establishes a foundation for secure communication via quantum key distribution （QKD）. In the last two decades, the rapid development of QKD makes a global quantum communication network feasible. In order to construct this network, it is economical to consider small-sized and low-cost QKD payloads, which can be assembled on satellites with different sizes, such as space stations. Here we report an experimental demonstration of space-to-ground QKD using a small-sized payload, from Tiangong-2 space lab to Nanshan ground station. The 57.9-kg payload integrates a tracking system, a QKD transmitter along with modules for synchronization, and a laser communication transmitter. In the space lab, a 50MHz vacuum＋weak decoy-state optical source is sent through a reflective telescope with an aperture of 200mm. On the ground station, a telescope with an aperture of 1200mm collects the signal photons. A stable and high-transmittance communication channel is set up with a high-precision bidirectional tracking system, a polarization compensation module, and a synchronization system. When the quantum link is successfully established, we obtain a key rate over 100bps with a communication distance up to 719km. Together with our recent development of QKD in daylight, the present demonstration paves the way towards a practical satellite-constellation-based global quantum secure network with small-sized QKD payloads.展开更多
Future optical clock networks will require high-precision optical time-frequency transfer between satellites and ground stations.However,due to atmospheric turbulence,satellite motion and time delay between the satell...Future optical clock networks will require high-precision optical time-frequency transfer between satellites and ground stations.However,due to atmospheric turbulence,satellite motion and time delay between the satellite–ground transmission links will cause spatial and temporal variations,respectively,resulting in the breakdown of the time-of-flight reciprocity on which optical two-way time-frequency transfer is based.Here,we experimentally simulate the atmospheric effects by two-way spatio-temporally separated links between two stationary terminals located 113 km apart and measure the effects for optical two-way time-frequency transfer.Our experiment shows that the effect on the link instability is less than 2.3×10^(−19) at 10,000 s.This indicates that when the link instability of satellite-ground optical time-frequency transfer is on the order of 10^(−19),it is not necessary to consider the atmospheric non-reciprocity effects.展开更多
基金Supported by China Manned Space Program,Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization Chinese Academy of Sciences,Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Quantum technology establishes a foundation for secure communication via quantum key distribution （QKD）. In the last two decades, the rapid development of QKD makes a global quantum communication network feasible. In order to construct this network, it is economical to consider small-sized and low-cost QKD payloads, which can be assembled on satellites with different sizes, such as space stations. Here we report an experimental demonstration of space-to-ground QKD using a small-sized payload, from Tiangong-2 space lab to Nanshan ground station. The 57.9-kg payload integrates a tracking system, a QKD transmitter along with modules for synchronization, and a laser communication transmitter. In the space lab, a 50MHz vacuum＋weak decoy-state optical source is sent through a reflective telescope with an aperture of 200mm. On the ground station, a telescope with an aperture of 1200mm collects the signal photons. A stable and high-transmittance communication channel is set up with a high-precision bidirectional tracking system, a polarization compensation module, and a synchronization system. When the quantum link is successfully established, we obtain a key rate over 100bps with a communication distance up to 719km. Together with our recent development of QKD in daylight, the present demonstration paves the way towards a practical satellite-constellation-based global quantum secure network with small-sized QKD payloads.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0309800,2020YFC2200103)Strategic Priority Research Programme of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA15020400,XDB35030000)+5 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(12274398,61825505,T2125010)Anhui Initiative in Quantum Information Technologies(AHY010100)Key RD Plan of Shandong Province(2020CXGC010105,2021ZDPT01)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2019SHZDZX01)Innovation Programme for Quantum Science and Technology(2021ZD0300100)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2018492,2021457).
文摘Future optical clock networks will require high-precision optical time-frequency transfer between satellites and ground stations.However,due to atmospheric turbulence,satellite motion and time delay between the satellite–ground transmission links will cause spatial and temporal variations,respectively,resulting in the breakdown of the time-of-flight reciprocity on which optical two-way time-frequency transfer is based.Here,we experimentally simulate the atmospheric effects by two-way spatio-temporally separated links between two stationary terminals located 113 km apart and measure the effects for optical two-way time-frequency transfer.Our experiment shows that the effect on the link instability is less than 2.3×10^(−19) at 10,000 s.This indicates that when the link instability of satellite-ground optical time-frequency transfer is on the order of 10^(−19),it is not necessary to consider the atmospheric non-reciprocity effects.
