Hyperentangled Time-bin and Polarization Quantum Key Distribution

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a satellite-compatible quantum communication system using hyperentanglement in polarization and time-bin, achieving low error rates and higher secure key rates for space-to-ground quantum key distribution.

Contribution

It introduces a hyperentanglement-based QKD protocol suitable for satellite links, with experimental validation and security analysis, advancing space-based quantum communication technology.

Findings

Achieved QBER below 2% in all bases for satellite-like conditions

Demonstrated higher secure key rates using hyperentanglement

Validated protocol security with finite-key analysis

Abstract

Fiber-based quantum communication networks are currently limited without quantum repeaters. Satellite-based quantum links have been proposed to extend the network domain. We have developed a quantum communication system, suitable for realistic satellite-to-ground communication. With this system, we have executed an entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol developed by Bennett, Brassard, and Mermin in 1992 (BBM92), achieving quantum bit error rates (QBER) below 2$\%$ in all bases. More importantly, we demonstrate low QBER execution of a higher dimensional hyperentanglement-based QKD protocol, using photons simultaneously entangled in polarization and time-bin, leading to significantly higher secure key rates, at the cost of increased technical complexity and system size. We show that our protocol is suitable for a space-to-ground link, after incorporating Doppler shift compensation, and verify its security using a rigorous finite-key analysis. Additionally, We discuss system engineering considerations relevant to those and other quantum communication protocols, and their dependence on what photonic degrees of freedom are utilized.