High Fidelity Down-Conversion Source for Secure Communications using On-Demand Single Photons

To provide reliably secure communications, development of quantum optical devices for encrypted ground-to-space communications is a necessity. The overall goal of this NASA effort is to develop and deliver efficient, single-pass quantum optical waveguide sources capable of backward quasi-phase-matched interactions for generation of high purity photon pairs for use in an on-demand photon source to enable high-rate long-distance encryption key distribution. The new devices will produce down-conversion entangled photon pairs with enhanced spectral properties and low attenuation, providing the key technology required for development of an on-demand heralded photon source. Furthermore, the waveguide-based technology is compact, robust, and power efficient for future deployment on space-based platforms to provide provably, unconditionally secure quantum encryption to satisfy requirements for the NASA topic Transformational Communications Technology.