Traceable metrology for characterizing quantum optical communication devices

Abstract

Industrial technologies based on the production, manipulation, and detection of single and entangled photons are emerging. Quantum key distribution is one of the most commercially advanced, and among the first to directly harness the peculiar laws of quantum physics. To assist the development of this quantum industry, the National Physical Laboratory is using traditional, and quantum, methods to develop traceable metrology for the devices used in these technologies. We report on the instrumentation we have developed to characterize such systems.

Metrology for Quantum Communications

“…Measurement of the mean photon number(s) of the photons emitted by the transmitter is performed by a single-photon detector, which is calibrated in the same way as the detectors in the receiver [11]. Wavelength can be established using standard techniques [12].…”

A study to develop a robust method for measuring the detection efficiency of free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon detectors

“…The performance of all these applications greatly depends on the parameters of the detector used, such as quantum efficiency, dead time, dark counts, after-pulse probability, gating rate, etc., which need to be metrologically characterized to fully guarantee the reliability of the detection system. Therefore, several national metrological institutes (NMIs), in collaboration with standardisation organisations such as ETSI, are currently putting great efforts into developing novel measurement methods and calibration facilities, enabling the performance of traceable characterization of such detectors by using reference standards [8][9][10][11]. From the radiometric point of view, the detection efficiency of such detectors is a key parameter that shall be measured in a traceable manner to the primary standard for optical power (cryogenic radiometer) or by exploiting independent absolute measurement techniques [10,[12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

The 12th international conference on new developments and applications in optical radiometry (NEWRAD 2014)

“…Müller et al [2] apply synchrotron radiation to bridge the gap from conventional radiant power measurements to single photon range in order to calibrate the responsivity of photon counting detectors. Chunnilall et al [3] developed instrumentation for calibration of the QKD receiver and QKD transmitter and demonstrate the ability to provide traceable measurements for the new quantum optical technologies.Solar radiometry and Earth Observation have traditionally been central topics in the NEWRAD conferences. This issue includes five articles on such applications [4][5][6][7][8].…”