Towards Quantum Communication in Free-Space Seawater

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that quantum states, including entangled states, can be transmitted through seawater, paving the way for underwater quantum communication, with high fidelity and violation of Bell inequality observed.

Contribution

First experimental validation of seawater as a viable medium for quantum communication, showing high fidelity transmission of quantum states over seawater samples.

Findings

Polarization quantum states survive seawater transmission.

Average process fidelity exceeds 98% for single photons.

Bell inequality violation observed with high significance.

Abstract

Long-distance quantum channels capable of transferring quantum states faithfully for unconditionally secure quantum communication have been so far confirmed feasible in both fiber and free-space air. However, it remains unclear whether seawater, which covers more than 70% of the earth, can also be utilized, leaving global quantum communication incomplete. Here we experimentally demonstrate that polarization quantum states including general qubits and entangled states can well survive after travelling through seawater. We performed experiments in a 3.3-meter-long tube filled with seawater samples collected in a range of 36 kilometers in Yellow sea, which conforms to Jerlov water type I. For single photons at 405 nm in blue-green window, we obtained average process fidelity above 98%. For entangled photons at 810 nm, even with high loss, we observe violation of Bell inequality with 33 standard deviations. This work confirms feasibility of seawater quantum channel, representing the first step towards underwater quantum communication.