• Home
  • Current congress
  • Public Website
  • My papers
  • root
  • browse
  • IAC-08
  • A2
  • 1
  • paper
  • Space-QUEST: Experiments with quantum entanglement in space

    Paper number

    IAC-08.A2.1.3

    Author

    Dr. Rupert Ursin, Austrian Acadey of Sciences, Austria

    Coauthor

    Dr. T. Jennewein, Austrian Academy of Science, Austria, Austria

    Coauthor

    Dr. J. Perdigues, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

    Coauthor

    Dr. L. Cacciapuoti, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

    Coauthor

    Dr. C. de Matos, European Space Agency (ESA), France

    Coauthor

    Dr. A. Aspelmeyer, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria

    Coauthor

    Dr. A. Valencia, ICFO-Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain

    Coauthor

    Prof. C. Barbieri, University of Padova, Italy

    Coauthor

    Dr. G. Bianco, Matera Space Geodesy Center, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Italy

    Coauthor

    Prof. S. Cova, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

    Coauthor

    Dr. D. Giggenbach, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Germany

    Coauthor

    Dr. R. H. Hadfield, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom

    Coauthor

    Prof. N. Luetgenhaus, University of Waterloo, Canada

    Coauthor

    Prof. J. Rarity, University of Bristol, United Kingdom

    Coauthor

    Prof. R. Renner, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland

    Coauthor

    Dr. N. Solomos, Hellenic Naval Academy, Greece

    Coauthor

    Prof. W. Tittel, University of Calgary, Canada

    Coauthor

    Prof. J. P. Torres, ICFO-Institute of Photonic Sciences, Spain

    Coauthor

    Dr. M. Toyoshima, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan

    Coauthor

    Prof. P. Villoresi, DEI-University of Padova and INFM-CNR LUXOR, Italy

    Coauthor

    Prof. I. Walmsley, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

    Coauthor

    Prof. G. Weihs, University of Waterloo, Canada

    Coauthor

    Prof. H. Weinfurter, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Germany

    Coauthor

    Prof. M. Zukowski, University of Gdansk, Poland

    Coauthor

    Prof. G. Milburn, Department of Physics, Australia

    Coauthor

    Prof. T. Ralph, Department of Physics, Australia

    Coauthor

    Prof. A. Zeilinger, University of Vienna and Austrian Academy of Science, Austria

    Year

    2008

    Abstract
    The European Space Agency (ESA) has for several years supported a range of studies in the ?eld of quantum physics and quantum information science in space, and consequently we have submitted the mission proposal Space-QUEST (QUantum Entanglement for Space ExperimenTs) to the European Life and Physical Sciences in Space Program. We propose performing quantum communciation space-to-ground tests from the International Space Station (ISS). We present the proposed experiments in space as well as the design of a space based quantum communication payload. 
    
    \section{Introduction}
    Quantum entanglement is, according to Erwin Schr¨odinger in 1935 [1], the essence of quantum physics and inspires fundamental questions about the principles of nature. By testing the entanglement of particles we are able to ask very fundamental questions about realism and locality [2, 3] in nature. Local realism imposes certain constraints on statistical correlations of measurements on multi-particle systems. Quantum mechanics, however, predicts much stronger than classical correlations, that are independent from the distance between the particles and are not explicable with classical physics. 
    
    \subsection{Scientific Background}
    Testing the quantum mechanical predictions of the cor-relations over distances achievable with systems placed in Earth orbit, or even beyond [4], would allow us to verify both the validity of quantum physics and the preservation of entanglement over distances impossible to achieve on the ground. Moreover, quantum mechanics is also the basis for emerging technologies of quantum information science, one of the most active research ?elds in physics at present. Presently, the most prominent application is quantum cryptography [5], i.e. the generation of a provably unconditional secure key at distance, which is not possible using classical physics. The use of satellites opens up the possibility of performing quantum communications demonstrations on a global scale, a task impossible with current optical ?ber and photon-detector technology on ground. Currently, quantum communication on ground is limited to within some 100 of kilometers[6]. Bringing quantum communication in space will allow to overcome this limit by far. Another possible area of applications is in metrology, where quantum clock synchronization and quantum positioning [7] are studied. Fur thermore, quantum physics sources in space may have applications in the new ?eld of quantum astronomy [8]. 
    
    \subsection{Space-QUEST Proposal}
    We propose to perform quantum mechanics in space, by placing a quantum transceiver on the external pallet of the European Columbus module at the ISS. The quantum communications transceiver includes an entangled photon source, weak pulse laser sources, single photon detection modules and the associated optics for manipulating and analyzing single photons. A design of a complete space-based quantum communication payload including the quantum communication transceiver and two classical optical terminals is published in [9]. The two entangled photons are transmitted to two distant ground stations via simultaneous down links [10]. Furthermore, this system would be capable of performing a series of consecutive single down links with various ground stations (and connected local quantum cryptography networks [11, 12]) and thus enable global quantum key distribution. An uplink scenario is published in [13]. It would be favorable to include in parallel to the QKD-downlink from the ISS a high-speed communications link providing several Gigabits per second bandwidth [14]. 
    
    \subsection{Proof-of-principle Experiments}
    Various proof-of-principle demonstrations of quantum communication protocols have already been performed over free-space links as an important step towards quantum communication protocols using satellites [15–18]. An experiment was carried out on the Canary islands using a 144 km free-space link, between the neighboring island La Palma and Tenerife. Here we used a 1-meter-diameter receiver telescope owned by the European Space Agency (ESA) [19, 20], originally designed for classical laser communication with satellites, to receive the single photons. Furthermore a quantum communication channel between a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a receiver station on Earth (the ASI-Matera-Laser-Ranging-Observatory, Italy) was realized. It simulates a singlephoton quantum channel by re?ecting faint laser pulses o? the optical retrore?ecor on board of the satellite Ajisai, whose orbit has a perigee height of 1485 km, thus realizing a satellite-to-Earth quantum-channel [21]. An important component in space based quantum communication is a source for entangled photons, that is suitable for space applications in terms of e?ciency, mass and power consumption. We are presently working on a source based on new, very highly e?ective down con-version crystals which deliver the necessary numbers of photon pairs [22]. 
    
    \subsection{Topical Team Space-QUEST}
    In 2007 the formation of a Topical Team for supporting the Space-QUEST experiment comprised of re-searchers from academiaactively involved in relevant scienti?c ?elds was initiated by ESA and currently consists of 27 members. This Topical Team team will support the proposal with their individual scienti?c and technical expertise. The proposing team of Space-QUEST will also aim at increas the research community’s interaction with industry. The present programmatic roadmap of Space-QUEST is compatible with a launch date by end of 2014 [23]. 
    
    \subsection{Conclusion}
    In conclusion, we emphasize that the space envi-ronment will allow quantum physics experiments with photonic entanglement and other quantum states of light/single photons/attenuated laserpulses to be per-formed on a large, even global, scale. The proposed proposal Space-QUEST aims to place a quantum com-munication transceiver containing the entangled photon source, a weak pulsed (decoy) laser source and single photon counting modules in space and will accomplish the ?rst-ever demonstration in space of fundamental tests on quantum physics and quantum-based telecom applications. The unique features of space o?er extremely long propagation paths to explore the limits of the validity of quantum physics principles. n particular this system will allow a test of quantum entanglement to be performed over a distance in excess of 1000 km, which is clearly impossible on the ground. 
    
    \section{Acknowledgments}
    This work was supported by European Space Agency under contract numbers 16358/02/NL/SFe, \\ 17766/03/NL/PM and 18805/04/NL/HE as well as the national space delegations. Additional funding was provided by the European Commission (QAP). 
    
    \vspace{1cm}
    Project URL: http: //www.quantum.at/quest 
    \vspace{1cm}
    
    \section{References}
    
    \hspace{0.5cm}[1] E. Schr\¨odinger. Die gegenw¨artige Situation in der Quantenmechanik. Naturwissenschaften, 23:807–812; 823–828; 844–849, 1935.
    
    [2] J.S. Bell. On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen paradox. Physics, 1:195–200, 1964.
    
    [3] Nonlocal hidden-variable theories and quantum mechanics: An incompatibility theorem. Leggett, a. j. Found. Phys., 33:14691493, 2003.
    
    [4] R. Kaltenbaek, M. Aspelmeyer, M. Pfennigbauer, Th. Jennewein, C. Brukner, W. R. Leeb, and A. Zeilinger. Proof-of-concept experiments for quantum physics in space. Proc. of SPIE, 5161:252–268, 2003.
    
    [5] N. Gisin, G. Ribordy, W. Tittel, and H. Zbinden. Quantum cryptography. Rev. Mod. Phys., 74(1):145–195, Mar 2002.
    
    [6] E. Waks, A. Zeevi, and Y. Yamamoto. Security of quantum key distribution with entangled photons against individual attacks. Phys. Rev. A, 65:52310, 2002.
    
    [7] Alejandra Valencia, Maria V. Chekhova, Alexei Trifonov, and Yanhua Shih. Entangled two-photon wave packet in a dispersive medium. Phys. Rev. Lett., 88(18):183601, Apr 2002.
    
    [8] G. Naletto, C. Barbieri, T. Occhipinti, F. Tamburini, S. Billotta, S. Cocuzza, and D. Dravins. Very fast photon counting photometers for astronomical applications: from quanteye to aqueye. In Photon counting appli-cations, Quantum Optics, and Quantum Cryptography. SPIE Proc. 6583, pp. 65830B-1/14, (2007).
    
    [9] M. 	Pfennigbauer, M. Aspelmeyer, W. Leeb, G. Bais-ter, T. Dreischer, T. Jennewein, G. Neckamm, J.M. Perdigues, and H. Weinfurter and A. Zeilinger. Satellite-based quantum communication terminal employing state-of-the-art technology. Opt. Express, 4:549–560, 2005.
    
    [10] M. Aspelmeyer, T. Jennewein, M. Pfennigbauer, W. R. Leeb, and A. Zeilinger. Long-distance quantum commu-nication with entangled photons using satellites. In IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 1541-1551, 2003.
    
    [11] A Poppe, M.Peev, and O.Maurhart. Outline of the secoqc quantum-key-distribution network in vienna. to appear in Int. J. Quant. Inf., 2008. 
    
    [12] M. Dianati and R. Allaume und M. Gagnaire und X. Shen. Architecture and protocols of the future european quantum key distribution network. Security and Communication Networks, 1:57–74, 2008.
    
    [13] J. G. Rarity, P. R. Tapster, P. M. Gorman, and P. Knight. Ground to satellite secure key exchange using quantum cryptography. New Journal of Physics, 4:82, 2002.
    
    [14] N. Perlot, M. Knapek, D. Giggenbach, J. Horwath, M. Brechtelsbauer, Y. Takayama, and T. Jono. Results of the optical downlink experiment kiodo from oicets satellite to optical ground station oberpfaffenhofen (ogs-op). In Conference on Laser Communication and Propagation, Proc. of SPIE 6457A, 2007.
    
    [15] C. Kurtsiefer, P. Zarda, M. Halder, H. Weinfurter, P. M. Gorman, P. R. Tapster, and J. G. Rarity. A step towards global key distribution. Nature, 419:450, 2002.
    
    [16] R. J. Hughes, J. E. Nordholt, D. Derkacs, and G.Peterson. Practical free-space quantum key distribution over 10 km in daylight andat night. New Journal of Physics, 4:43, 2002.
    
    [17] M. Aspelmeyer, H. Bhm, T. Gyatso, T. Jennewein, R. Kaltenbaek, M. Lindenthal, G. Molina-Terriza, A. Poppe, K. Resch, M. Taraba, R. Ursin, Ph. Walther, and A. Zeilinger. Long-distance free-space distribution of entangled photons. Science, 301:621–623, 2003.
    
    [18] C. Z. Peng, T. Yang, X. H. Bao, J. Z, X. M. Jin, F. Y. Feng, J. Yang, J. Yin, Q. Zhang, N. Li, B. L.Tian, and J. W. Pan. Experimental free-space distribution of entangled photon pairs over a noisy ground atmosphere of 13km. Phys. Rev. Lett., 94:150501, 2005.
    
    [19] T. Schmitt-Manderbach, H. Weier, M. Frst, R. Ursin, F. Tiefenbacher, T. Scheidl, J. Perdigues, Z. Sodnik, Ch. Kurtsiefer, J.G. Rarity, A. Zeilinger, and H. Weinfurter. Experimental demonstration of free-space decoystate quantum key distribution over 144 km. Phys. Rev. Lett., 98:010504, 2007.
    
    [20] R. Ursin, F. Tiefenbacher, T. Schmitt-Manderbach, H. Weier, T. Scheidl, M. Lindenthal, B. Blauensteiner, T. Jennewein, J. Perdigues, P. Trojek, B. Oemer, M. Fuerst, M. Meyenburg, J. Rarity, Z. Sodnik, C. Barbi-eri, H. Weinfurter, and A. Zeilinger. Entanglement-based quantrum communication over 144 km. Nature Physics, 3:481 – 486, 2007.
    
    [21] P. Villoresi, T. Jennewein, F. Tamburini, M. Aspelmeyer, C. Bonato, R. Ursin, C. Pernechele, V. Luceri, G. Bianco, A. Zeilinger, and C. Barbieri. Experimental veri?cation of the feasibility of a quantum channel between space and earth. accepted for publication in New Journal of Physics.
    
    [22] A. Fedrizzi, T. Herbst, A. Poppe, T. Jennewein, and A. Zeilinger. A wavelength-tunable ?ber-coupled source of narrowband entangled photons. Opt. Express, 15(23):15377–15386, 2007.
    
    [23] J. Perdigues, B. Furch, C. de Matos, O. Minster, L. Cacciapuoti, M. Pfennigbauer, M. Aspelmeier, Th. Jennewein, R. Ursin, T. Schmitt-Manderbach, G. Baister, J. 	Rarity, W. Leeb, C. Barbieri, H. Weinfurter, and A. Zeilinger. Quantum communication at ESA: Towards a space experiment on the is. In Coference Proceedings IAC2007 Hydarabath India (2007), accepted for publication in Acta Astronautica, 2007.
    Abstract document

    IAC-08.A2.1.3.pdf

    Manuscript document

    IAC-08.A2.1.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

    To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.