Open AccessPolarization-maintaining design for satellite-based quantum communication terminals
Author(s) -
Jincai Wu,
Liang Zhang,
Jianjun Jia,
Tianhong Wang,
Rong Shu,
Zhiping He,
Yunlong Wang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.387574
Subject(s) - quantum key distribution , quantum entanglement , quantum information science , polarization (electrochemistry) , quantum channel , computer science , quantum , transmitter , optical communication , optics , physics , optoelectronics , telecommunications , photon , quantum mechanics , channel (broadcasting) , chemistry
We report the polarization preservation of quantum light in the optical systems of the terminals of the world's first quantum communication satellite, Micius. The main scientific experimental goals and polarization requirements of the satellite and ground station are introduced firstly. Three optical terminals are equipped on Micius to achieve our scientific goals, including a quantum entanglement source (QES), quantum entanglement transmitter (QET) and quantum key distribution transmitter (QKDT), and the function of each optical terminal is described briefly. A polarization-maintaining design for the terminals on Micius is critical for quantum communication, and the optical structure of the QKDT and QET is determined by using three polarization-maintaining methods. The optical configurations of the QKDT and QET are introduced, and the polarization-maintaining methods are described in detail. The final polarization extinction ratios of the QKDT and QET at wavelengths of 850 nm and 810 nm are better than 500:1, which provides critical technical support for realizing the scientific goals of Micius.