arXiv subjects

Konstantin Kravtsov

Publications and source records attributed to Konstantin Kravtsov.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Broadband Characterization of Polarization Mode Dispersion for Quantum Communication Channels

We present a method for characterizing polarization fiber channels carrying broadband quantum signals, where narrowband filtering would waste photon flux. Wavelength-dependent polarization mode dispersion (PMD) maps each input state to a trajectory on the Poincar\'e sphere; we show that the singular value decomposition of the band-averaged rotation matrix yields, in closed form, the optimal input states, the mutually unbiased measurement bases, and their infidelities. The three singular values provide a compact, bandwidth-dependent channel signature that separates first- from higher-order PMD, and the resulting 5%-infidelity bandwidth gives a practical filtering budget. We characterize deployed fiber links in Masdar City and demonstrate PMD mitigation by concatenating two channels through a single polarization controller.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Analytical model for structured light propagation through a turbulent atmosphere

We develop a straightforward analytical framework for the propagation of spatial light modes through a turbulent atmosphere. Built upon the split-step approach with the mode-based optical field representation, it directly assesses how turbulence-induced phase fluctuations deplete the optical power in the original mode and re-distribute it into neighboring spatial modes. Importantly, this power transfer scales linearly with the propagation distance in a uniform channel, yielding a simple solution for arbitrary distances in the form of a matrix exponential. The transfer rate is determined by the spatial spectral overlap between the turbulence spectrum and the acceptance spectrum for a pair of interacting spatial modes. The model predicts the average power in each spatial mode and is exact when a single mode strongly dominates all others. Our predictions show reasonably good agreement with simulations up to medium-to-strong turbulence levels. The model also confirms the scalings with mode order previously known as empirical observations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Terrestrial readiness campaign for space-to-ground quantum communications with a space-qualified entangled photon-pair system

Realizing a global quantum internet relies on the deployment of robust satellite-based entanglement distribution links. While pioneering demonstrations have established the feasibility of such links, the transition to operational infrastructure demands the validation of robust, integrated space-to-ground architectures. Here, we report on a free-space Quantum Key Distribution experiment conducted over a 1.8 km free-space link using an engineering model of the quantum payload onboard the SpeQtre satellite and the Abu Dhabi Quantum Optical Ground Station. By implementing a BBM92 protocol with polarization-entangled photons, a secret key rate of approximately 7.56 kbps with a mean quantum bit error rate of 4.78%+-0.24% was produced. The deployed system featured spectral and spatial filtering approaches identical to those in the space segment, thus validating the link budget and background rejection capabilities under realistic atmospheric conditions. These results confirm the operational compatibility between the ground and space segments, establishing a critical performance baseline for the SpeQtre mission and future space-based, large-scale quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Actively-trained magnetic Moment Tensor Potentials for mechanical, dynamical, and thermal properties of paramagnetic CrN

We present a protocol for automated fitting of magnetic Moment Tensor Potential explicitly including magnetic moments in its functional form. For the fitting of this potential we use energies, forces, stresses, and magnetic forces (negative derivatives of energies with respect to magnetic moments) of configurations selected with an active learning algorithm. These selected configurations are computed using constrained density functional theory, which enables calculating energies and their derivatives for both equilibrium and non-equilibrium (excited) magnetic states. We test our protocol on the system of B1-CrN and demonstrate that the automatically trained magnetic Moment Tensor Potential reproduces mechanical, dynamical, and thermal properties, of B1-CrN in the paramagnetic state with respect to density functional theory and experiments.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Versatile Optical Ground Station for Satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution in Abu Dhabi

With the growing number of satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) payload launches, it becomes essential to ensure compatibility across different platforms for satellite tracking and quantum signal acquisition. In this paper, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) presents the development of the Abu Dhabi Quantum Optical Ground Station (ADQOGS) for secure free-space optical communications. With the know-how of GA-Synopta's experienced engineering team, we have developed a versatile multi-wavelength quantum acquisition and tracking system tailored to support various upcoming space-based QKD missions, crucial for the practical implementation of global quantum communication networks. This system is capable of handling multiple wavelengths, ranging from 600 nm to 1560 nm for downlink beacons and 1530 nm to 1610 nm for uplink beacons. It includes a free-space quantum module adequate to detect QKD signals at $780\pm10$ nm and $850\pm3$ nm and offers spatial and spectral filtering capabilities along with a motorized polarization correction system.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Anisotropic van der Waals Crystal with High Refractive Index and Transparency for UV-Visible Range Applications

Thanks to their record high refractive index and giant optical anisotropy, van der Waals (vdW) materials have accelerated the development of nanophotonics. However, traditional high refractive index materials, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), still dominate in the most important visible range. This is due to the current lack of transparent vdW materials across the entire visible spectrum. In this context, we propose that germanium disulfide (GeS2) could offer a significant breakthrough. With its high refractive index, negligible losses, and biaxial optical anisotropy across the whole visible range, GeS2 has the potential to complement TiO2 and close the application gap of vdW materials in the visible spectrum. The addition of GeS2 could have a profound impact on the design of van der Waals nanophotonic circuits for any operation wavelength from ultraviolet to infrared, emphasizing the significance of the potential impact of GeS2 on the field of nanophotonics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Impact of polarization mode dispersion on entangled photon distribution

Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in optical fibers poses a major challenge for maintaining the fidelity of quantum states for quantum communications. In this work, a comprehensive model linking the probability of quantum measurement errors (infidelity) to PMD is developed and validated by experimental measurements of differential group delay and quantum bit error rate (QBER). Our research proposes effective methods to mitigate PMD effects for broadband entangled photons and evaluates the impact of higher-order PMD effects. The model provides an experimentally verified framework for the optimization of commercial quantum key distribution systems in deployed fiber optic lines.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Parallel trusted node approach for satellite quantum key distribution

Quantum key distribution (QKD) via satellite links is the only currently viable solution to create quantum-backed secure communication at a global scale. To achieve intercontinental coverage with available technology one must adopt a "flying trusted node" paradigm, in which users fully trust the satellite platform. Here, inspired by the concept of distributed secret sharing and the imminent projected launch of several QKD-equipped satellites, we propose a parallel trusted node approach, in which key distribution is mediated by several satellites in parallel. This has the effect of distributing the trust, removing single points of failure and reducing the necessary assumptions. In addition, we discuss the versatility that an optical ground station should provide to execute such a protocol and, in general, to be fully integrated into a multi-party global quantum network.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Experimental adaptive process tomography

Adaptive measurements were recently shown to significantly improve the performance of quantum state tomography. Utilizing information about the system for the on-line choice of optimal measurements allows to reach the ultimate bounds of precision for state reconstruction. In this article we generalize an adaptive Bayesian approach to the case of process tomography and experimentally show its superiority in the task of learning unknown quantum operations. Our experiments with photonic polarization qubits cover all types of single-qubit channels. We also discuss instrumental errors and the criteria for evaluation of the ultimate achievable precision in an experiment. It turns out, that adaptive tomography provides a lower noise floor in the presence of strong technical noise.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Experimental Adaptive Bayesian Tomography

We report an experimental realization of an adaptive quantum state tomography protocol. Our method takes advantage of a Bayesian approach to statistical inference and is naturally tailored for adaptive strategies. For pure states we observe close to 1/N scaling of infidelity with overall number of registered events, while best non-adaptive protocols allow for $1/\sqrt{N}$ scaling only. Experiments are performed for polarization qubits, but the approach is readily adapted to any dimension.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Experimental Adaptive Quantum Tomography of Two-Qubit States

We report an experimental realization of adaptive Bayesian quantum state tomography for two-qubit states. Our implementation is based on the adaptive experimental design strategy proposed in [F.Huszár and N.M.T.Houlsby, Phys.Rev.A 85, 052120 (2012)] and provides an optimal measurement approach in terms of the information gain. We address the practical questions, which one faces in any experimental application: the influence of technical noise, and behavior of the tomographic algorithm for an easy to implement class of factorized measurements. In an experiment with polarization states of entangled photon pairs we observe a lower instrumental noise floor and superior reconstruction accuracy for nearly-pure states of the adaptive protocol compared to a non-adaptive. At the same time we show, that for the mixed states the restriction to factorized measurements results in no advantage for adaptive measurements, so general measurements have to be used.

quant-ph↗