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W. Tittel

Publications and source records attributed to W. Tittel.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2000

Highly efficient photon-pair source using a Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguide

We report on a new kind of correlated photon-pair source based on a waveguide integrated on a Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate substrate. Using a pump laser of a few micro-Watts at 657 nm, we generate degenerate photon-pairs at 1314 nm. Detecting about 1500 coincidences per second, we can infer a conversion rate of 10-6 pairs per pump photon, which is four orders of magnitude higher than that obtained with previous bulk sources. These results are very promising for the realization of sources for quantum communication and quantum metrology experiments requiring a high signal-to-noise ratio or working with more than one photon-pair at a time.

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arXiv2000

Experimental Test of Relativistic Quantum State Collapse with Moving Reference Frames

An experimental test of relativistic wave-packet collapse is presented. The tested model assumes that the collapse takes place in the reference frame determined by the massive measuring detectors. Entangled photons are measured at 10 km distance within a time interval of less than 5 ps. The two apparatuses are in relative motion so that both detectors, each in its own inertial reference frame, are first to perform the measurement. The data always reproduces the quantum correlations and thus rule out a class of collapse models. The results also set a lower bound on the "speed of quantum information" to 0.66 x 10^7 and 1.5 x 10^4 times the speed of light in the Geneva and the background radiation reference frames, respectively. The very difficult and deep question of where the collapse takes place - if it takes place at all - is considered in a concrete experimental context.

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arXiv2000

Experimental test of non-local quantum correlation in relativistic configurations

We report on a new kind of experimental investigations of the tension between quantum nonlocally and relativity. Entangled photons are sent via an optical fiber network to two villages near Geneva, separated by more than 10 km where they are analyzed by interferometers. The photon pair source is set as precisely as possible in the center so that the two photons arrive at the detectors within a time interval of less than 5 ps (corresponding to a path length difference of less than 1 mm). One detector is set in motion so that both detectors, each in its own inertial reference frame, are first to do the measurement! The data always reproduces the quantum correlations, making it thus more difficult to consider the projection postulate as a compact description of real collapses of the wave-function.

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arXiv1999

Quantum secret sharing using pseudo-GHZ states

We present a setup for quantum secret sharing using pseudo-GHZ states based on energy-time entanglement. In opposition to true GHZ states, our states do not enable GHZ-type tests of nonlocality, however, they bare the same quantum correlations. The relatively high coincidence count rates found in our setup enable for the first time an application of a quantum communication protocoll based on more than two qubits.

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arXiv1999

Quantum Cryptography using entangled photons in energy-time Bell states

We present a setup for quantum cryptography based on photon pairs in energy-time Bell states and show its feasability in a laboratory experiment. Our scheme combines the advantages of using photon pairs instead of faint laser pulses and the possibility to preserve energy-time entanglement over long distances. Moreover, using 4-dimensional energy-time states, no fast random change of bases is required in our setup : Nature itself decides whether to measure in the energy or in the time base.

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arXiv1999

Quantum Cryptography using larger alphabets

Like all of quantum information theory, quantum cryptography is traditionally based on two level quantum systems. In this letter, a new protocol for quantum key distribution based on higher dimensional systems is presented. An experimental realization using an interferometric setup is also proposed. Analyzing this protocol from the practical side, one finds an increased key creation rate while keeping the initial laser pulse rate constant. Analyzing it for the case of intercept/resend eavesdropping strategy, an increased error rate is found compared to two dimensional systems, hence an advantage for the legitimate users to detect an eavesdropper.

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arXiv1998

Pulsed energy-time entangled twin-photon source for quantum communication

A pulsed source of energy-time entangled photon pairs pumped by a standard laser diode is proposed and demonstrated. The basic states can be distinguished by their time of arrival. This greatly simplifies the realization of 2-photon quantum cryptography, Bell state analyzers, quantum teleportation, dense coding, entanglement swapping, GHZ-states sources, etc. Moreover the entanglement is well protected during photon propagation in telecom optical fibers, opening the door to few-photon applications of quantum communication over long distances.

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arXiv1998

Long-distance Bell-type tests using energy-time entangled photons

Long-distance Bell-type experiments are presented. The different experimental challenges and their solutions in order to maintain the strong quantum correlations between energy-time entangled photons over more than 10 km are reported and the results analyzed from the point of view of tests of fundamental physics as well as from the more applied side of quantum communication, specially quantum key distribution. Tests using more than one analyzer on each side are also presented.

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arXiv1998

Experimental demonstration of quantum correlations over more than 10 km

Energy and time entangled photons at a wavelength of 1310 nm are produced by parametric downconversion in a KNbO3 crystal and are sent into all-fiber interferometers using a telecom fiber network. The two interferometers of this Franson-type test of the Bell-inequality are located 10.9 km apart from one another. Two-photon fringe visibilities of up to 81.6 % are obtained. These strong nonlocal correlations support the nonlocal predictions of quantum mechanics and provide evidence that entanglement between photons can be maintained over long distances.

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arXiv1998

Violation of Bell inequalities by photons more than 10 km apart

A Franson-type test of Bell inequalities by photons 10.9 km apart is presented. Energy-time entangled photon-pairs are measured using two-channel analyzers, leading to a violation of the inequalities by 16 standard deviations without subtracting accidental coincidences. Subtracting them, a 2-photon interference visibility of 95.5% is observed, demonstrating that distances up to 10 km have no significant effect on entanglement. This sets quantum cryptography with photon pairs as a practical competitor to the schemes based on weak pulses.

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arXiv1997

Non-local two-photon correlations using interferometers physically separated by 35 meters

An experimental demonstration of quantum correlations is presented. Energy and time entangled photons at wavelengths of 704 and 1310 nm are produced by parametric downconversion in KNbO3 and are sent through optical fibers into a bulk-optical (704 nm) and an all-fiber Michelson-interferometer (1310 nm), respectively. The two interferometers are located 35 meters aside from one another. Using Faraday-mirrors in the fiber-interferometer, all birefringence effects in the fibers are automatically compensated. We obtained two-photon fringe visibilities of up to 95 % from which one can project a violation of Bell's inequality by 8 standard deviations. The good performance and the auto-aligning feature of Faraday-mirror interferometers show their potential for a future test of Bell's inequalities in order to examine quantum-correlations over long distances.

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arXiv1997

Interferometry with Faraday mirrors for quantum cryptography

Quantum Cryptography over 23km of installed Telecom fiber using a novel interferometer with Faraday mirrors is presented. The interferometer needs no alignment nor polarization control and features 99.8% fringe visibility. A secret key of 20kbit length with a error rate of 1.35% for 0.1 photon per pulse was produced.

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arXiv1996

``Plug and play'' systems for quantum cryptography

We present a time-multiplexed interferometer based on Faraday mirrors, and apply it to quantum key distribution. The interfering pulses follow exactly the same spatial path, ensuring very high stability and self balancing. Use of Faraday mirrors compensates automatically any birefringence effects and polarization dependent losses in the transmitting fiber. First experimental results show a fringe visibility of 0.9984 for a 23km-long interferometer, based on installed telecom fibers.

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