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Feasibility Analysis for Quantum Key Distribution between a LEO Satellite and Earth

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Quantum Communication and Quantum Networking (QuantumComm 2009)

Abstract

Terrestrial QKD channels can connect two links with a maximum distance of few hundred kilometres. In the case of fibre links, this is due to the signal attenuation in the fibre; in the case of free-space link the losses are due to atmospheric turbulence and absorption. Free-space optical terminals exploiting satellite-based relays are the only resource that can enable global scale quantum key distribution, since single photon propagation is for the main part in vacuum with no turbulence or absorption, and just a small part of the path is through the atmosphere. Several proof-of-principle experiments have been carried out recently: among these the feasibility of single-photon exchange between a satellite and an optical ground station was demonstrated in 2008 [1].

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References

  1. Villoresi, P., et al.: Experimental verification of the feasibility of a quantum channel between space and Earth. New Journal of Physics 10, 033038 (2008)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Italy, CNR-INFM LUXOR Laboratory for Ultraviolet and X-ray, Padova, Italy

    C. Bonato, A. Tomaello, V. Da Deppo, G. Naletto & P. Villoresi

  2. Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    C. Bonato

Authors
  1. C. Bonato
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  2. A. Tomaello
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  3. V. Da Deppo
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  4. G. Naletto
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  5. P. Villoresi
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Department of Physics, Boston University, 8 Saint Mary’ s Street, 02215-2421, Boston, MA, USA

    Alexander Sergienko

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Unversity di Bari, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Saverio Pascazio

  3. Department of Information Engineering, CNR-INFM LUXOR Laboratory for Ultravilolet and X-Ray Optical Search, University of Padova, via Gradenico 6, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Paolo Villoresi

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© 2010 ICST Institute for Computer Science, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering

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Bonato, C., Tomaello, A., Da Deppo, V., Naletto, G., Villoresi, P. (2010). Feasibility Analysis for Quantum Key Distribution between a LEO Satellite and Earth. In: Sergienko, A., Pascazio, S., Villoresi, P. (eds) Quantum Communication and Quantum Networking. QuantumComm 2009. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 36. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11731-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11731-2_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11730-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11731-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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