Multi-channel transmission of quantum information

摘要

A communication system adapted to use wavelength (frequency) division multiplexing for quantum-key distribution (QKD). In one embodiment, a communication system of the invention has a transmitter coupled to a receiver via a transmission link. The transmitter has (i) a first optical-frequency comb source (OFCS) adapted to generate a first plurality of uniformly spaced frequency components and (ii) a first multi-channel optical modulator adapted to independently modulate each component of the first plurality to produce a quantum-information (QI) signal applied to the transmission link. The receiver has (i) a second OFCS adapted to generate a second plurality of uniformly spaced frequency components and (ii) a second multi-channel optical modulator adapted to independently modulate each component of the second plurality to produce a local-oscillator (LO) signal. Each of the first and second optical-frequency comb sources is referenced to a frequency standard such that the frequency components generated by these comb sources have substantially the same frequencies. The receiver employs a multi-channel homodyne detector adapted to process interference signals produced by combining the LO signal with the QI signal to ascertain quantum information carried by the QI signal.