Quantum Sciences Components for Space Applications

Fibertek is pleased to submit this SBIR Phase I proposal to develop a low-SWaP, low-cost, entanglement-based quantum-application-enabling CubeSat payload for high-speed, secure communication between satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).  In this proposed work, we will develop and validate an entangled photon source suitable for integration into Fibertek’s existing and tested space-qualified CubeSat terminal, perform system level design and analysis, thus enabling space-based quantum communications and other potential quantum applications using entangled photon pairs in an existing subsystem design that is already space-qualified. Our goal is to have a design for CubeSat terminal with entangled source distribution capability by the end of Phase I and build a TRL6 prototype ready for flight demonstrate by the full completion of Phase II. Fibertek’s space-qualified compact terminal provides all the functionality necessary for eye-safe, free-space optical communications in a format which is appropriate for Small Satellite systems. To design and package a tested quantum entangled photon source in the same form factor for easy and flexible attachment to the existing 2U compact laser communications terminal will enhance it with quantum functionality and security. With the addition of secure encryption through entanglement-based quantum communication, our optical link will provide the security of a fundamentally unbreakable encryption key. Moreover, the ability to distribute and share entanglement photon source in space opens the door for many other applications such as quantum teleportation, entanglement swapping, quantum science verification, quantum protocol testing, ghost imaging and so on, because the entanglement photon source itself is a crucial basic ingredient and powerful enabling tool for many quantum sciences and applications in general. Fibertek has identified a robust and compact entanglement source with low SWaP and practical function for a fielded system. We will use a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate waveguide source for a degenerate, type II spontaneous parametric down conversion from 405 nm to 810 nm as the entanglement source. The 810 nm is chosen due to the availability of COTS silicon single photon detectors and their high efficiency, low dark count rate compared with longer-IR-wavelength detectors. Our established design eliminates the risk and cost of developing a new compact optical communications terminal, provides a perfect platform for the addition of quantum technology enabling entanglement sources, and offers a short timeline and low-cost approach for implementing quantum communication from space. The outcome of this SBIR Phase 1 and 2 will be prototype space deployable quantum enabled hardware ready for a space technology demonstration program.