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Polarization Entangled Photon Sources for Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution

dc.contributor.authorTannous, Ramy
dc.date.accessioned2018-08-27T17:19:56Z
dc.date.available2018-08-27T17:19:56Z
dc.date.issued2018-08-27
dc.date.submitted2018
dc.description.abstractFree-space quantum key distribution has recently achieved several milestones, such as the launch and results of the first quantum satellite, Micius. The emergence of quantum satellites has certainly made progress towards the realization of a global quantum cryptographic network. In this thesis, two challenges in the development of an optical quantum ground station for a free-space quantum satellite link are studied. The first is the development of a high brightness, fiber pigtailed waveguide that is to be used as a polarization entangled photon source. The high pair production rate is required in order to meet the requirements for a satellite up-link configuration. The portability, robustness and ease of alignment were motivations for choosing a fiber pigtailed source. Certain challenges that are fundamental to the source design were characterized and several solutions to these challenges were investigated. The other main investigation in this thesis, is the development of a passive polarization compensation using polarization maintaining fibers. The birefringence in standard single mode optical fibers causes random polarization rotations to the light passing through the fiber. Polarization maintaining fibers, though very high in birefringence, are used with entangled photons and techniques from reference frame independent quantum key distribution protocols are shown to compensate for random polarization rotations while preserving the entanglement. In addition, the feasibility of the protocol using the polarization maintaining fibers is investigated. Through various studies, experiments, and component design, the feasibility of a pigtailed waveguide entangled photon source has been shown to need further investigation, while the feasibility of implementing polarization maintaining fibers to the ground station has been shown to be effective. It is particularly effective as a passive polarization compensation system that uses entanglement, however a similar concept is effective for non-entangled single photons. This work contributes to a long line of achievements leading towards satellite implementations of quantum key distribution for an eventual global quantum cryptographic network.en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/13671
dc.language.isoenen
dc.pendingfalse
dc.publisherUniversity of Waterlooen
dc.titlePolarization Entangled Photon Sources for Free-Space Quantum Key Distributionen
dc.typeMaster Thesisen
uws-etd.degreeMaster of Scienceen
uws-etd.degree.departmentPhysics and Astronomyen
uws-etd.degree.disciplinePhysics (Quantum Information)en
uws-etd.degree.grantorUniversity of Waterlooen
uws.contributor.advisorJennewein, Thomas
uws.contributor.affiliation1Faculty of Scienceen
uws.peerReviewStatusUnrevieweden
uws.published.cityWaterlooen
uws.published.countryCanadaen
uws.published.provinceOntarioen
uws.scholarLevelGraduateen
uws.typeOfResourceTexten

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