Beamshaping beacon light for satellite quantum key distribution: spatial separation and point ahead angle

Cameron Simmons; Ross Donaldson

doi:10.1117/12.2688757

30 November 2023 Beamshaping beacon light for satellite quantum key distribution: spatial separation and point ahead angle

Cameron Simmons, Ross Donaldson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12795, Quantum Technology: Driving Commercialisation of an Enabling Science IV; 1279508 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2688757
Event: SPIE Photonex, 2023, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) uses quantum states in an optical channel to grow a key with guaranteed security. Satellite QKD (SatQKD) is a proposed topology for QKD which provides unlimited terrestrial range for links and allows mobile access. SatQKD (and generally satellite optical communications) Optical Ground Stations (OGSs) require an optical beacon, a beam from OGS to satellite to assist pointing the satellite’s telescope(s). Beaconing is challenging for SatQKD due to the single-photon sensitivity of the receiver to back-reflected beacon light and the need to point the outgoing beacon ahead of the downlink channel (the Point-Ahead Angle (PAA)). Hence, beacon light is often propagated through separate telescopes, increasing complexity. We describe a spatially separated beacon which reduces back-reflection errors and how its PAA is achieved. The far field beams of this and other beacon architectures are compared. Beaconing in this way can give greater up-time (due to less maintenance) and a lower cost barrier to development. A related system could have similar benefits for laser-guide-star telescopes.

(2023) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

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Cameron Simmons and Ross Donaldson "Beamshaping beacon light for satellite quantum key distribution: spatial separation and point ahead angle", Proc. SPIE 12795, Quantum Technology: Driving Commercialisation of an Enabling Science IV, 1279508 (30 November 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2688757

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KEYWORDS

Telescopes

Quantum key distribution

Satellites

Photons

Multicore fiber

Beam divergence

Receivers

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