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arXiv · 1903.01171

Experimental investigation of quantum key distribution over water channel

Shicheng Zhao·Wendong Li·Yuan Shen·YongHe Yu·XinHong Han·Hao Zeng·Maoqi Cai·Tian Qian·Shuo Wang·Zhaoming Wang·Ya Xiao·Yongjian Gu
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Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) has undergone significant development in recent decades, particularly with respect to free-space (air) and optical fiber channels. Here, we report the first proof-of-principle experiment for the BB84 protocol QKD over a water channel. Firstly, we demonstrate again the polarization preservation properties of the water channel in optical transmission according to the measured Mueller matrix, which is close to the unit matrix. The reason for the polarization preservation, revealed by Monte Carlo simulation, is that almost all the received photons are unscattered.Then, we performed the first polarization encoding BB84 protocol QKD over a 2.37m water channel. The results show that QKD can be performed with a low quantum bit error rate (QBER), less than 3.5%, with different attenuation coefficients.

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Shicheng Zhao, Wendong Li, Yuan Shen, YongHe Yu, XinHong Han, Hao Zeng, Maoqi Cai, Tian Qian, Shuo Wang, Zhaoming Wang, Ya Xiao, Yongjian Gu. 2019-03-04. Experimental investigation of quantum key distribution over water channel. https://doi.org/10.1364/ao.58.003902

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