Abstract
Current systems for quantum cryptography make use of single photons transmitted in optical fibers. Although the losses in an optical fiber are relatively small, the use of any kind of amplifier or repeater would eliminate the quantum- mechanical coherence necessary for the operation of the system. Thus it does not appear to be possible to extend the range of quantum cryptography systems in optical fibers much beyond the currently demonstrated1 range of 30 km. This greatly limits the usefulness of such systems, since most applications require much larger ranges.
© 1996 Optical Society of America
PDF ArticleMore Like This
JD Franson and BC Jacobs
FK4 International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC) 1996
Paul D. Townsend
FI4 Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) 1999
J.G. Rarity
JMA3 European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC) 1996