Quantum Key Distribution: Photons, Data Rates, Fibers

Research team from the Technical University of Denmark achieves multi-fold increase in quantum encryption key bitrates. From their earlier research, the team’s work “achieved low and stable quantum bit error rate” – a key challenge in quantum computing research and development. The team developed protocols maximizing multi-core optic fiber; in turn, they accomplished encoding greater amounts of information thus improving quantum key distribution throughput rates. Continued progress based on single-photon arrays is expected to produce improved data-rate through efficient protocols and scalable processes. Research has also continued into photon-pair generation with multi-mode “fiber optics and four-wave mixing.” Photon-pair generation has direct application to quantum communications.