Towards Quantum Communication from Global Navigation Satellite System

TL;DR

This paper reports the first experimental exchange of single photons from a GNSS satellite at 20,000 km, demonstrating the feasibility of quantum communication from high-orbit satellites despite technological challenges.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence of quantum photon exchange from GNSS satellites and analyzes the requirements for future satellite-based quantum communication.

Findings

Successful single-photon exchange at 20,000 km distance

Observed temporal spread due to satellite array geometry

Estimated technological requirements for active satellite sources

Abstract

Satellite-based quantum communication is an invaluable resource for the realization of a quantum network at the global scale. In this regard, the use of satellites well beyond the low Earth orbits gives the advantage of long communication time with a ground station. However, high-orbit satellites pose a great technological challenge due to the high diffraction losses of the optical channel, and the experimental investigation of such quantum channels is still lacking. Here, we report on the first experimental exchange of single photons from Global Navigation Satellite System at a slant distance of 20000 kilometers, by exploiting the retroreflector array mounted on GLONASS satellites. We also observed the predicted temporal spread of the reflected pulses due to the geometrical shape of array. Finally, we estimated the requirements needed for an active source on a satellite, aiming towards quantum communication from GNSS with state-of-the-art technology.