Apparatus and method for adjustment of interference contrast in an interferometric quantum cryptography apparatus by tuning emitter wavelength
US8320774B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0852
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for maximizing interference contrast in an interferometric quantum cryptography system to detect eavesdropping by utilizing a tunable emitter station in communications with a receiver station via a quantum communications channel and a “public” communications channel. The tunable emitter station tracks and compensates for interferometer drifts by adjusting the interference contrast of the QC system to minimize or eliminate inherent perturbations induced into key bit transmissions. Tuning of the photo emitter's output wavelength is accomplishable using temperature and/or drive current adjustment of the emitter's tunable optical subsystem.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.