The impact of spot‐size on single‐photon avalanche diode timing‐jitter and quantum key distribution

Author:

Lee Alexandra12ORCID,Castillo Alfonso Tello2,Whitehill Craig1,Donaldson Ross2ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Wideblue Ltd Glasgow UK

2. Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Heriot‐Watt University Edinburgh UK

Abstract

AbstractIn free‐space implementations of Quantum key distribution (QKD), the wide adoption of near‐Infrared wavelengths has led to the common use of silicon single‐photon avalanche diodes (Si‐SPAD) for receiver systems. While the impacts of some SPAD properties on QKD have been explored extensively, the relationship of spot‐size and spatial position on the full instrumental response and thus quantum bit error rate (QBER) has been studied little. Changes in spot size and spatial position can result from atmospheric turbulence and pointing and tracking errors. Here, An empirical analysis of that relationship is presented utilising a large active area, 500 μm, free‐space coupled Si‐SPAD designed for free‐space QKD. A baseline full‐width at half‐maximum timing jitter of 182 ps and a QBER contribution of 0.1 % for a 1 GHz clock frequency QKD system and 100 ps time‐gating window are reported. The impacts of spot‐size and spatial position can increase the QBER to over 0.3%. The link between the spot‐size and timing jitter will allow the understanding of tolerancing for the alignment of Si‐SPADs within free‐space QKD receiver systems—an important factor in designing properly engineered practical systems and the equipment needed to compensate for atmospheric turbulence and pointing and tracking.

Funder

Royal Academy of Engineering

Innovate UK

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Publisher

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3