Abstract

We show that the performance of a 1310-nm quantum key distribution (QKD) system with up-conversion detectors pumped at 1550 nm is comparable with or better than that of current 1550-nm QKD systems with a pump at shorter wavelength. The nonlinearly-induced dark counts are reduced when the wavelength of the pump light is longer than that of the quantum signal. We have developed a 1550-nm pump up-conversion detector for a 1310-nm QKD system, and we experimentally study the polarization sensitivity, pump-signal format, and various influences on the dark count rate. Using this detector in a proof-of-principle experiment, we have achieved a secure key rate of 500 kbit/s at 10 km and 9.1 kbit/s at 50 km in a 625-MHz, B92, polarization-coding QKD system, and we expect that the system performance could be improved further.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

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History
Original Manuscript: February 7, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: May 20, 2007
Revised Manuscript: May 16, 2007
Published: May 30, 2007

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Author Affiliations

Hai Xu, Lijun Ma, Alan Mink, Barry Hershman, Xiao Tang

National Institute of Standards and Technology

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