Quantum Cryptography in Space

Scientists at ORNL and U of I offer a solution for secure communication between satellites.

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Illinois have demonstrated the viability of quantum encryption as a means for securing communication in space.

The experiment, led by ORNL’s Joseph Chapman, simulated high-dimensional quantum cryptography over long distances between satellites in a space environment.

According to the press release, “Chapman’s team used light particles to create entangled pairs of qubits and qudits, meaning one particle from a pair couldn’t be described independently of the other. The team emulated transmission between a ground station and satellite and simulated transmission from orbiting satellites.”

An article describing the research “Hyperentangled, “Time-Bin and Polarization Quantum Key Distribution,” appears in the October 2022 edition of Physical Review Applied.