Open AccessAfter-pulse-discarding in single-photon detection to reduce bit errors in quantum key distribution
Author(s) -
Akio Yoshizawa,
R. Kaji,
Hidemi Tsuchida
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.11.001303
Subject(s) - quantum key distribution , optics , detector , photon , physics , photon counting , realization (probability) , bit error rate , optical fiber , photonics , pulse (music) , key (lock) , quantum optics , optoelectronics , computer science , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , mathematics , statistics , computer security
We demonstrate fiber-optic quantum key distribution (QKD) at 1550 nm using single-photon detectors operating at 5 MHz. Such high speed single-photon detectors are essential to the realization of efficient QKD. However, after-pulses increase bit errors. In the demonstration, we discard after-pulses by measuring time intervals of detection events. For a fiber length of 10.5 km, we have achieved a key rate of 17 kHz with an error of 2%.