Mainz 2026 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 81: Quantum Communication, Networks, Repeaters, & QKD III
Q 81.5: Talk
Friday, March 6, 2026, 15:30–15:45, P 10
A Compact Receiver for Polarisation Encoded BB84 Quantum Key Distribution — •Michael Steinberger1,2, Moritz Birkhold1,2, Michael Auer1,2,3, Adomas Baliuka1,2, Harald Weinfurter1,2,4, and Lukas Knips1,2,4 — 1Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Munich, Germany — 2Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Munich, Germany — 3Universität der Bundeswehr, Neubiberg, Germany — 4Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ), Garching, Germany
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables the secure exchange of secret keys, by exploiting the laws of quantum mechanics. Free-space optical communication allows for a range of different QKD use-cases, including short ground-to-ground links for urban environments up to key exchange with satellites. Current hardware uses telescopes with complex optics and highly efficient single-photon detection devices. To make QKD suitable for scenarios offering less space and profiting from a higher degree in mobility, our goal is to develop very compact and integrated detection systems for polarization-encoded BB84 QKD. We demonstrate a miniaturized polarisation analysis unit (PAU) on the millimeter scale. To be used with CMOS single photon avalanche detector arrays these concepts - trading in performance - achieve a new level of of scalability and integrability.
Keywords: Quantum Key Distribution; QKD; BB84 Receiver; CMOS SPADs; Polarization Analysis