Nanosatellite experiments to enable future space-based QKD missions

Bedington, Robert and Bai, Xueliang and Truong-Cao, Edward and Tan, Yue Chuan and Durak, Kadir and Villar Zafra, Aitor and Grieve, James A and Oi, Daniel KL and Ling, Alexander (2016) Nanosatellite experiments to enable future space-based QKD missions. EPJ Quantum Technology, 3. 12. ISSN 2196-0763 (https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-016-0051-7)

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Abstract

We present a programme for establishing the space worthiness of highly-miniaturised, polarisation-entangled, photon pair sources using CubeSat nanosatellites. Once demonstrated, the photon pair sources can be deployed on more advanced satellites that are equipped with optical links to establish a global space-based quantum key distribution network. In doing so, this work will also bring experimental tests of the overlap between quantum and relativistic regimes closer to realisation.