arXiv subjects

Yong Sup Ihn

Publications and source records attributed to Yong Sup Ihn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Time-spectral control of accidental coincidences in daylight entanglement-based free-space QKD

Daylight entanglement-based free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) is limited by accidental coincidences from receiver-admitted background light. We develop and experimentally validate a receiver-level framework anchored to measured singles rates and reference coincidence components, linking receiver bandwidth, accepted temporal width, and background-noise density to Bob singles, sifted-key rate, error rate, and quantum bit error rate (QBER) in telecom-wavelength BBM92 QKD. Indoor sweeps show that the sifted-key rate saturates near the source-matched bandwidth, whereas broader bandwidth or higher background mainly increases accidental contamination. Increasing the accepted temporal width leaves Bob singles nearly unchanged but directly raises QBER by enlarging the random-overlap probability. A two-dimensional design map calculated from the model shows that the temporal-window margin contracts rapidly with increasing background-to-signal ratio, while the bandwidth margin remains comparatively broad near source-matched filtering. A rooftop experiment demonstrates daylight operation over a 10 m free-space link, yielding a mean sifted-key rate of 2,811 cps and a mean QBER of 4.43%. This framework provides a quantitative basis for choosing receiver bandwidth and temporal acceptance to meet a target QBER under specified background conditions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Recon?figurable measurement scheme compatible with MDI-QKD and BB84 protocols using single-laser sideband generation

A quantum network can be operated efficiently by switching between measurement-device independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) and BB84 according to the trust level of an intermediate node, since MDI-QKD is immune to all detector side-channel attacks while generally yielding a lower secret-key rate. Here, we present a proof-of-principle demonstration of a recon?figurable measurement scheme compatible with both protocols using a single laser. Two mutually independent weak coherent states (WCSs) are generated from a shared continuous-wave laser via electro-optic phase modulation and subsequent ?first-order sideband fi?ltering. Channel indistinguishability is verifi?ed using two complementary Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) measurements: time-resolved coincidence measurements and polarization mismatch scans, both yielding HOM visibilities close to the theoretical limit of 0.5 for WCSs. The measurement module performs a partial Bell-state measurement for MDI-QKD, while rotating a single half-wave plate to 22.5 degree reconfi?gures the same module into a dual-basis polarization analyzer for BB84. The quantum bit error rates measured in both confi?gurations agree well with theoretical expectations, verifying the operational feasibility of the reconfi?gurable receiver at the physical layer. By eliminating the need for active frequency locking while retaining independent sideband tunability, this approach provides a practical foundation for flexible and cost-effective quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Robust Generation of Topological Biphoton Mode via Adiabatic Passage

Topological waveguide arrays support robust mode propagation in the presence of fabrication imperfections, providing a significant advantage for on-chip quantum information processing. However, this robustness does not fully extend to nonlinear biphoton generation. Structural disorder can enhance the excitation of non-topological biphoton modes during nonlinear interactions, which degrades the quantum properties of the generated state. To overcome this limitation, we propose an adiabatic passage that connects an isolated site to a topological defect array. By initiating the nonlinear process in a strongly isolated regime, nonlinear coupling to unwanted modes is effectively suppressed, thereby preserving the Schmidt number of the generated state. The subsequent adiabatic connection facilitates the high fidelity transfer of the generated biphoton into the topological biphoton mode. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that, unlike conventional topological structures, the adiabatic scheme maintains both high biphoton fidelity and a unit Schmidt number in the presence of waveguide gap disorder. Furthermore, we show that this robustness extends to path entangled NOON states, achieving a near-unity quantum interference visibility. Our approach provides a practical design strategy for disorder-tolerant integrated quantum photonic devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Quantum target ranging with Hetero-Homodyne detection

Quantum target ranging, which estimates a target position using entangled photon pairs, is known to offer an error-probability advantage over classical ranging strategies. Yet, realizing this advantage in practice remains challenging, as an existing receiver design relies on collective measurements and requires an impractically large number of quantum memories and linear passive components. In this work, we propose the hetero-homodyne receiver, a practically implementable architecture that achieves quantum advantage in target ranging using only local measurements. The receiver requires only one heterodyne setup, a single homodyne setup, and a delay line, making the implementation scalable and experimentally feasible. Our results establish a realistic framework for demonstrating quantum advantage in target ranging and contribute toward practical quantum radar systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Quantum key distribution over a 2 km free-space channel with a high secure key rate

Free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) provides crucial advantages, including mobility and deployment flexibility, for securing next-generation communication networks. However, practical free-space implementations face major challenges, such as muilti-photon vulnerabilities, spatial mode mismatch, and atmospheric turbulence-induced beam fluctuations. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate a free-space decoy-state BB84 QKD system operating at a 100 MHz repetition rate with a 2.5 ns pulse width over a 2 km outdoor channel. By employing an active beam-wander correction based on fast-steering mirrors (FSMs) and position sensitive detectors (PSDs) con?figuration, our system achieves a secure key rate of 164.8 kbps under a quantum bit error rate (QBER) of approximately 3.3 %. This demonstration provides a practical framework for deploying high-rate, long-distance free-space quantum communication in realistic turbulence environments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Spectrally engineered collinear type-0 SPDC source with enhanced spectral brightness for entanglement distribution

Entangled photon sources with high spectral brightness are important resources for photonic quantum information processing, particularly in quantum communication and quantum networking where usable photon flux of entangled photons is often constrained by channel loss and source inefficiency. Here, we demonstrate a spectrally engineered type-0 spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) source with enhanced spectral brightness for entanglement distribution. By pumping a 30-mm ppKTP crystal with an ultra-narrowband laser slightly detuned from degeneracy, photon-pair generation is concentrated into a narrow spectral bandwidth while retaining the strong nonlinear interaction of type-0 phase matching. The source produces a coincidence rate of 44.6 kHz corresponding to a detected spectral brightness of 0.507 MHz/mW/nm. We further integrate the source into a Sagnac interferometer to generate polarization-entangled photon pairs and demonstrate entanglement distribution through a 2.56 km free-space round-trip channel. Our results show that spectral engineering provides a practical route to compact, spectrally bright entangled-photon sources for quantum communication applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Radar Cross Section with two-photon entangled states

We study two-photon entangled states for quantum radar cross section (QRCS), which is an extension of a single-photon QRCS formula. Since signal-idler entanglement does not provide any enhancement of the QRCS [Brandsema's PhD Thesis (2017)], we focus on signal-signal entanglement and derive the corresponding biphoton QRCS. We show that it can provide an enhancement over the single-photon QRCS and two-photon separable QRCS, where the performance is evaluated for various two-dimensional target geometries in monostatic/bistatic configurations. Furthermore, using the double-Gaussian approximation, we derive QRCS formula for biphoton states with arbitrary degree of entanglement and compute the resulting scattering patterns.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

NavFormer: IGRF Forecasting in Moving Coordinate Frames

Triad magnetometer components change with sensor attitude even when the IGRF total intensity target stays invariant. NavFormer forecasts this invariant target with rotation invariant scalar features and a Canonical SPD module that stabilizes the spectrum of window level second moments of the triads without sign discontinuities. The module builds a canonical frame from a Gram matrix per window and applies state dependent spectral scaling in the original coordinates. Experiments across five flights show lower error than strong baselines in standard training, few shot training, and zero shot transfer. The code is available at: https://anonymous.4open.science/r/NavFormer-Robust-IGRF-Forecasting-for-Autonomous-Navigators-0765

cs.LG↗

arXiv2025

Optimizing brightness of SPDC source in Laguerre-Gaussian modes using type-0 periodically-poled nonlinear crystal

Photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) can exhibit entanglement in the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode basis, which enables high-dimensional free-space quantum communication by exploiting the high-dimensional space spanned by the LG modes. For such free-space quantum communication, the brightness of the quantum light source plays an important role due to the atmospheric turbulence and photon loss. A variety of studies have analyzed the SPDC brightness by decomposing biphoton states into LG modes, but they have often relied on a degenerate state, a narrow spectral bandwidth approximation, or a thin crystal approximation. However, these approaches are unsuitable for non-degenerate type-0 SPDC with a periodicallypoled nonlinear crystal, which offers higher brightness due to its superior nonlinear coefficients. In this study, we examine the spectrum of photon pairs in specific LG modes generated by a type-0 ppKTP crystal whileavoiding the constraints imposed by the aforementioned assumptions. In addition, we investigate the optimal focal parameters of the pump, signal, and idler to maximize the brightness for a given LG mode. Our findings show that it is not feasible to simultaneously optimize the brightness for different LG modes with a single pump focal parameter. The results of this study provide a comprehensive framework for developing highbrightness quantum light sources and contribute to the advancement of high-dimensional free-space quantum communication.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Ultrabright fiber-coupled ploarization-entangled photon source with spectral brightness surpassing 2.0 MHz/mW/nm

We present an ultrabright polarization-entangled photon source that is optimally coupled into single-mode fibers (SMFs). This study theoretically and experimentally examines the characteristics of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) photons, including their spectrum, bandwidth, emission angle, and intensity, as functions of crystal length, temperature and beam waist condition. Notably, we measure the collinear spatial modes of photon-pairs and collection optics under various beam waist conditions and analyze them using a collinear Gaussian approximation model. By employing a simple mode-matching optical setup, we optimize the SMF coupling and heralding efficiencies of the photon-pairs. Consequently, we achieve a spectral brightness exceeding 2.0 MHz/mW/nm from a fiber-coupled entangled photon source, utilizing a 30-mm ppKTP crystal inside a polarization Sagnac interferometer. This represents the highest spectral brightness of SPDC photons generated using a CW laser pumped bulk crystal to date. Polarization entanglement was verified by a quantum state tomography and a polarization-correlation measurement. The fidelity of the entangled state is measured to be 97.8 % and the Bell-CHSH value S = 2.782 +- 0.04. The results obtained here provide practical insights for designing high-performance SPDC sources for satellite-based communication and long-distance optical links with extremely high-photon loss.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Highly-enhanced active beam-wander-correction for free-space quantum communications

In practical applications to free-space quantum communications, the utilization of active beam coupling and stabilization techniques offers notable advantages, particularly when dealing with limited detecting areas or coupling into single-mode fibers(SMFs) to mitigate background noise. In this work, we introduce highly-enhanced active beam-wander-correction technique, specifically tailored to efficiently couple and stabilize beams into SMFs, particularly in scenarios where initial optical alignment with the SMF is misaligned. To achieve this objective, we implement a SMF auto-coupling algorithm and a decoupled stabilization method, effectively and reliably correcting beam wander caused by atmospheric turbulence effects. The performance of the proposed technique is thoroughly validated through quantitative measurements of the temporal variation in coupling efficiency(coincidence counts) of a laser beam(entangled photons). The results show significant improvements in both mean values and standard deviations of the coupling efficiency, even in the presence of 2.6 km atmospheric turbulence effects. When utilizing a laser source, the coupling efficiency demonstrates a remarkable mean value increase of over 50 %, accompanied by a substantial 4.4-fold improvement in the standard deviation. For the entangled photon source, a fine mean value increase of 14 % and an approximate 2-fold improvement in the standard deviation are observed. Furthermore,the proposed technique successfully restores the fidelity of the polarization-entangled state, which has been compromised by atmospheric effects in the free-space channel, to a level close to the fidelity measured directly from the source. Our work will be helpful in designing spatial light-fiber coupling system not only for free-space quantum communications but also for high-speed laser communications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Quantum-secured single-pixel imaging with enhanced security

In this paper, we propose a novel quantum-secured single-pixel imaging method that utilizes non-classical correlations of a photon pair. Our method can detect any attempts to deceive it by exploiting a non-classical correlation of photon pairs while rejecting strong chaotic light illumination through photon heralding. A security analysis based on polarization-correlation has been conducted, demonstrating that our method has improved security compared to existing quantum-secured imaging. More specifically, a partial deceiving attack, which sends a mixture of a true and a false signal, can be detected with our proposed analysis, while currently employed methods cannot. We also provide proof-of-principle demonstrations of our method and trustworthy images reconstructed using our security analysis. Our method can be developed using matured techniques used in quantum secure communication, thus offering a promising direction for practical applications in secure imaging.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Trapping a Free-propagating Single-photon into an Atomic Ensemble as a Quantum Stationary Light Pulse

Efficient photon-photon interaction is one of the key elements for realizing quantum information processing. The interaction, however, must often be mediated through an atomic medium due to the bosonic nature of photons, and the interaction time, which is critically linked to the efficiency, depends on the properties of the atom-photon interaction. While the electromagnetically induced transparency effect does offer the possibility of photonic quantum memory, it does not enhance the interaction time as it fully maps the photonic state to an atomic state. The stationary light pulse (SLP) effect, on the contrary, traps the photonic state inside an atomic medium with zero group velocity, opening up the possibility of the enhanced interaction time. In this work, we report the first experimental demonstration of trapping a free-propagating single-photon into a cold atomic ensemble via the quantum SLP (QSLP) process. We conclusively show that the quantum properties of the single-photon state are preserved well during the QSLP process. Our work paves the way to new approaches for efficient photon-photon interactions, exotic photonic states, and many-body simulations in photonic systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Quantum-correlation-based free-space optical link with an active reflector

We present a quantum-correlation-based free-space optical(FSO) link over 250 m using an outdoor active reflector 125 m from the transceiver station. The performance of free-space optical communication can be significantly degraded by atmospheric turbulence effects, such as beam wander and signal fluctuations. We used a 660 nm tracking laser to reduce atmospheric effects, by analyzing the fast beam wander and slow temporal beam drift, using this information to correct the quantum channel alignment of the 810 nm signal photons. In this work, the active reflector consisted of a mirror, a 6-axis hexapod stage, and a long-range wireless bridge. The slow drift of the beam path due to outdoor temperature changes was steered and controlled using wireless optical feedback between the receiver units and the active reflector. Our work provides useful knowledge for improved control of beam paths in outdoor conditions, which can be developed to ensure high quality quantum information transfer in real-world scenarios, such as an unmanned FSO link for urban quantum communication or retro-reflective quantum communication links.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Observable bound for Gaussian illumination

We propose observable bounds for Gaussian illumination to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio, which minimizes the discrimination error between the presence and absence of a low-reflectivity target using Gaussian states. The observable bounds are achieved with mode-by-mode measurements. In the quantum regime using a two-mode squeezed vacuum state, our observable receiver outperforms the other feasible receivers whereas it cannot approach the quantum Chernoff bound. The corresponding observable cannot be implemented with heterodyne detections due to the additional vacuum noise. In the classical regime using a thermal state, a receiver implemented with a photon number difference measurement approaches its bound regardless of the signal mean photon number, while it asymptotically approaches the classical bound in the limit of a huge idler mean photon number.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Noise-robust single-pixel imaging in photon counting regime with a pulsed source

We present a method to classically enhance noise-robustness of single-pixel imaging in photon counting regime with a pulsed source. By using time-domain cross-correlations between temporal profiles of a pulsed source and received signals, our scheme classically imitates the noise rejection concept of quantum imaging. Under a strong noise environment in which the background noise intensity is up to 120 times higher than the signal one, we compare three different images obtained by conventional, quantum-enhanced, and classically enhanced schemes. The results show that the classically enhanced scheme can be remarkably robust against noise in image formation, which is comparable to the quantum scheme.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Heralded single-pixel imaging with high loss-resistance and noise-robustness

Imaging with non-classically correlated photon-pairs takes advantages over classical limits in terms of sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. However, it is still a challenge to achieve a strong resilience to background noise and losses for practical applications. In this work, we present heralded single-pixel imaging that is remarkably robust against bright background noise and severe signal losses. Using a strong temporal correlation between a photon-pair and joint measurement-based imaging method, we achieve the suppression of noise up to 1000 times larger than the signal and also demonstrate the correlation-induced SNR enhancement factor of over 200 against 70 times larger noise and a 90% signal loss compared to non-time-gated classical imaging. Our work enables correlated imaging with a highly scalable photon capacity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum illumination with asymmetrically squeezed two-mode light

We propose Gaussian quantum illumination(QI) protocol exploiting asymmetrically squeezed two-mode(ASTM) state that is generated by applying single-mode squeezing operations on each mode of an initial two-mode squeezed vacuum(TMSV) state, in order to overcome the limited brightness of a TMSV state. We show that the performance of the optimal receiver is enhanced by local squeezing operation on a signal mode whereas the performance of a realistic receiver can be enhanced by local squeezing operations on both input modes. Under a fixed mean photon number of the signal mode, the ASTM state can be close to the TMSV state in the performance of QI while there is a threshold of beating classical illumination in the mean photon number of the initial TMSV state. We also verify that quantum discord cannot be a resource of quantum advantage in the Gaussian QI using the ASTM state, which is a counterexample of a previous claim.

quant-ph↗