Probabilistic shaped 128-APSK CV-QKD transmission system over optical fibres.

In this Letter we present a discrete modulated, continuous variables quantum key distribution implementation using two probabilistically shaped, 128-symbol, amplitude and phase shift keying constellations. At Bob's detection side, a polarization diverse, true heterodyne receiver architecture is implemented for symbol recovery. We demonstrate experimentally that our system is capable of achieving security against collective attacks, while using accessible, telecom-grade material, and of functioning for an indefinitely long period of time at distances in excess of 185 km, in the asymptotic regime.

Quantum Oblivious Transfer: A Short Review.

Quantum cryptography is the field of cryptography that explores the quantum properties of matter. Generally, it aims to develop primitives beyond the reach of classical cryptography and to improve existing classical implementations. Although much of the work in this field covers quantum key distribution (QKD), there have been some crucial steps towards the understanding and development of quantum oblivious transfer (QOT).

Polarization based discrete variables quantum key distribution via conjugated homodyne detection.

Optical homodyne detection is widely adopted in continuous-variable quantum key distribution for high-rate field measurement quadratures. Besides that, those detection schemes have been being implemented for single-photon statistics characterization in the field of quantum tomography. In this work, we propose a discrete-variable quantum key distribution (DV-QKD) implementation that combines the use of phase modulators for high-speed state of polarization (SOP) generation, with a conjugate homodyne detection scheme which enables the deployment of high speed QKD systems.

Full polarization random drift compensation method for quantum communication.

Long-term quantum key distribution (QKD) using polarization encoding requires a random drift compensation method. We propose a method to compensate any state of polarization based on the quantum bit error rate (QBER) of two states from two non-orthogonal mutually unbiased bases. The proposed method does not require dedicated equipment, and through a simple but highly efficient feedback loop it compensates the polarization random drift suffered by photons while transmitted over the optical fiber quantum channel.

Secret key rate of multi-ring M-APSK continuous variable quantum key distribution.

Discrete modulation continuous variable quantum key distribution (DM-CV-QKD) is highly considered in real implementations to avoid the complexity of Gaussian modulation (GM), which is optimum in terms of the key rate. DM-CV-QKD systems usually consider M-symbol phase shift keying (M-PSK) constellations. However, this type of constellation cannot reach transmission distances and key rates as high as GM, limiting the practical implementation of CV-QKD systems.

Reversal operator to compensate polarization random drifts in quantum communications.

A quantum bit error rate (QBER) based algorithm for polarization random drift compensation is proposed. For a transmission window of 8 ms, for instance in aerial fiber installations, the algorithm overhead is below 1%. In an extreme turbulent situation, where the transmission window is as shorter as 0.

Reduced-complexity algorithm for space-demultiplexing based on higher-order Poincaré spheres.

We propose a reduced-complexity space-demultiplexing algorithm based on higher-order Poincaré spheres (HoPs) which is modulation format agnostic, free of training sequences and robust to the local oscillator phase fluctuations and frequency offsets. The signal tributaries are space-demultiplexed by calculating and realigning the best fit plane in the HoPs, with the inverse channel matrix being iteratively constructed by sequentially space-demultiplexing all pairs of tributaries. When compared with the previous proposed HoPs-based space-demultiplexing algorithm, results show a complexity reduction gain of 99% along with an improvement of 97% in terms of convergence speed.

Simplified high-order Volterra series transfer function for optical transmission links.

We develop a simplified high-order multi-span Volterra series transfer function (SH-MS-VSTF), basing our derivation on the well-known third-order Volterra series transfer function (VSTF). We notice that when applying an approach based on a recursive method and considering the phased-array factor, the order of the expression for the transfer function grows as 3 raised to the number of considered spans. By imposing a frequency-flat approximation to the higher-order terms that are usually neglected in the commonly used VSTF approach, we are able to reduce the overall expression order to the typical third-order plus a complex correction factor.

Space-demultiplexing based on higher-order Poincaré spheres.

We propose a space-demultiplexing algorithm based on signal analysis in higher-order Poincaré spheres for optical transmission systems supported by space-division multiplexing. This algorithm is modulation format agnostic and does not require training sequences. We show that any arbitrary pair of tributaries signals can be represented in a higher-order Poincaré sphere.

Nonlinear compensation with DBP aided by a memory polynomial.

Using digital backpropagation (DBP) based on the split step Fourier method (SSFM) aided by a memory polynomial (MP) model, we demonstrate an improved DBP approach for fiber nonlinearity compensation. The proposed technique (DBP-SSFM&MP) is numerically validated and its performance and complexity are compared against the benchmark DBP-SSFM, considering a single-channel 336 Gb/s PM-64QAM transmission system. We demonstrate that the proposed technique allows to maintain the performance achieved by DBP-SSFM, while decreasing the required number of iterations, by over 60%.

Switching in multicore fibers using flexural acoustic waves.

We propose an in-line wavelength selective core switch for multicore fiber (MCF) transmission systems, based on the acousto-optic effect. A theoretical model addressing the interaction between flexural acoustic waves and the optical signal in MCFs is developed. We show that an optical signal propagating in a particular core can be switched to any other core or distributed over all the cores.

Experimental demonstration of a frequency-domain Volterra series nonlinear equalizer in polarization-multiplexed transmission.

Employing 100G polarization-multiplexed quaternary phase-shift keying (PM-QPSK) signals, we experimentally demonstrate a dual-polarization Volterra series nonlinear equalizer (VSNE) applied in frequency-domain, to mitigate intra-channel nonlinearities. The performance of the dual-polarization VSNE is assessed in both single-channel and in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) scenarios, providing direct comparisons with its single-polarization version and with the widely studied back-propagation split-step Fourier (SSF) approach. In single-channel transmission, the optimum power has been increased by about 1 dB, relatively to the single-polarization equalizers, and up to 3 dB over linear equalization, with a corresponding bit error rate (BER) reduction of up to 63% and 85%, respectively.

Mitigation of intra-channel nonlinearities using a frequency-domain Volterra series equalizer.

We address the issue of intra-channel nonlinear compensation using a Volterra series nonlinear equalizer based on an analytical closed-form solution for the 3rd order Volterra kernel in frequency-domain. The performance of the method is investigated through numerical simulations for a single-channel optical system using a 20 Gbaud NRZ-QPSK test signal propagated over 1600 km of both standard single-mode fiber and non-zero dispersion shifted fiber. We carry on performance and computational effort comparisons with the well-known backward propagation split-step Fourier (BP-SSF) method.

Broadband polarization pulling using Raman amplification.

The Raman gain based polarization pulling process in a copropagating scheme is investigated. We map the degree of polarization, the angle between the signal and pump output Stokes vectors, the mean signal gain and its standard deviation considering the entire Raman gain bandwidth. We show that, in the undepleted regime (signal input power ~ 1 μW), the degree of polarization is proportional to the pump power and changes with the signal wavelength, following the Raman gain shape.