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arXiv · 2010.00128

Multiprobe time reversal for high-fidelity vortex-mode-division multiplexing over a turbulent free-space link

Yiyu Zhou·Jiapeng Zhao·Boris Braverman·Kai Pang·Runzhou Zhang·Alan E. Willner·Zhimin Shi·Robert W. Boyd
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Abstract

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of photons presents a degree of freedom for enhancing the secure key rate of free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) through mode-division multiplexing (MDM). However, atmospheric turbulence can lead to substantial modal crosstalk, which is a long-standing challenge to MDM for free-space QKD. Here, we show that the digital generation of time-reversed wavefronts for multiple probe beams is an effective method for mitigating atmospheric turbulence. We experimentally characterize seven OAM modes after propagation through a 340-m outdoor free-space link and observe an average modal crosstalk as low as 13.2% by implementing real-time time reversal. The crosstalk can be further reduced to 3.4% when adopting a mode spacing $\Delta \ell$ of 2. We implement a classical MDM system as a proof-of-principle demonstration, and the bit error rate is reduced from $3.6\times 10^{-3}$ to be less than $1.3\times 10^{-7}$ through the use of time reversal. We also propose a practical and scalable scheme for high-speed, mode-multiplexed QKD through a turbulent link. The modal crosstalk can be further reduced by using faster equipment. Our method can be useful to various free-space applications that require crosstalk suppression.

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Yiyu Zhou, Jiapeng Zhao, Boris Braverman, Kai Pang, Runzhou Zhang, Alan E. Willner, Zhimin Shi, Robert W. Boyd. 2020-09-30. Multiprobe time reversal for high-fidelity vortex-mode-division multiplexing over a turbulent free-space link. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.15.034011

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