As I was researching additional information about Quantum Key Generators, I discovered various devices such as USB, PCI, and motherboards that can generate quantum keys randomly. These devices are compatible with different platforms and operating systems, including mobile, PC, desktop PCs, and rackmount setups. Additionally, I came across an exciting potential commercial product involving drones. Essentially, two drones can fly apart and generate high-quality random numbers, with one acting as the sender and the other as the receiver. This innovative approach could greatly enhance the security and efficiency of quantum key generation. I will include the link to the presentation for further details. Now, i am not sure if this idea will ever become a commercial product, but I will keep my readers updated.
The presentation by Daniel Sanchez Rosales from The Ohio State University discusses the experimental setup and application of drone-based quantum key distribution (QKD). Here's a summary of the key points:
Introduction to Drone-Based QKD
Motivation: Drones offer a low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) platform for quantum networks, making them ideal for secure communications, distributed quantum sensors, and linking remote quantum nodes.
Current Work: QKD has been demonstrated on satellite-to-ground and plane-to-ground platforms, but these are not easily accessible. Drones can provide a more practical and flexible solution.
Experimental Setup
Transmitter (TX) Drone: Equipped with resonant cavity LEDs and an optical setup to create polarization states.
Receiver (RX) Drone: Similar optical setup to sort and measure the states using single-photon detectors and an FPGA for data collection.
Pointing and Tracking (PAT): A critical component to align the drones, utilizing coarse (outer loop) and fine (inner loop) adjustments for optimal signal coupling.
Key Components
Sources: Three resonant cavity LEDs coupled to single-mode fibers, attenuated to single-photon levels, and powered at 12.5 MHz. The decoy state method prevents photon-number-splitting attacks.
State Preparation: Light is passed through polarizers and wave plates to create specific polarization states.
Temporal Indistinguishability: Achieved by carefully controlling the pulses generated by the LEDs using an FPGA.
Results and Future Work
Data Collection: Quantum bit error rates of 7.7% and 8.7% in different polarization bases, well below the threshold for secure key generation.
Improvements: Aiming to reduce dropout regions, enhance coupling efficiency, and extend the range beyond 10 meters. Future experiments will involve different platforms, such as drone-to-moving-car scenarios.
Application and Impact
Drone-based QKD can revolutionize secure communications by providing flexible and mobile quantum networks. This approach addresses the limitations of current satellite and plane-based systems, offering a practical solution for secure data transmission in various scenarios.
For more detailed information, you can view the entire presentation on YouTube or refer to related academic papers on drone-based QKD.