DRDO & IIT Delhi organise demonstration of Quantum Communication Technologies
T
he DRDO Industry Academia–Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi demonstrated quantum communications technologies in New Delhi. It has been developed by their collaborative initiative of the entanglement-based quantum key distribution approaches for robust and secure communication, demonstrating entanglement distribution and quantum key distribution (QKD) over a 50 km fibre link in the laboratory.
A separate field test has demonstrated entanglement distribution and QKD over 8 km of optical fiber in the IIT Delhi campus. In another initiative of quantum research, free-space entanglement distribution was demonstrated using the BBM-92 protocol, a key QKD method, between two tables separated by 20 meters in the lab and 80 meters in open space. This experiment showcased short-range quantum communication in a free-space setup.
In an innovative experiment, hybrid entanglement has been demonstrated in a free-space environment, achieving a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of around 6 percent over a distance of 10 meters in the lab. Additionally, QKD systems supporting multiple independent channels driven by a single source are also being explored with promising results. These developments open the door for more flexible, multi-protocol quantum communication systems.
To achieve these breakthroughs, an all-fiber heralded photon source with a second-order correlation function (g² ~ 0.01) at rates reaching hundreds of kHz has been developed. This innovation is vital for single-photon generation, a critical requirement for secure quantum communication. An all-fiber entangled photon source has also been developed with high visibility, where the Bell test parameter for this source is more than 2.6, exhibiting strong quantum entanglement essential for protocols like BBM-92.
For free-space quantum communication experiments, a free-space heralded single-photon source has been demonstrated with a heralding rate of over 4 million counts per second, enabling robust free-space quantum communication. Following India's first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) demonstration between the cities of Prayagraj and Vindhyachal, separated by 100 km, by DRDO labs and IIT Delhi in February 2022, many new initiatives have been taken by DRDO and IIT Delhi.
Furthermore, the indigenization of various components like quantum sources and detectors has been initiated. These include single-photon sources on LNOI, SNSPD, and periodically poled non-linear crystals. These projects are launched at IIT Delhi in collaboration with DRDO labs like DYSL-QT and SSPL and are funded by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management under its deep tech initiatives aimed at fostering cutting-edge innovations in defense technology.
Through its projects at the DIA-CoE, IIT Delhi and DRDO have created a strong national footprint in QKD with breakthroughs in both fiber and free-space areas. Quantum communication holds significant potential for enhancing security in strategic sectors such as defense and finance by providing robust and tamper-evident communication channels.
The DRDO Industry Academia–Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) is a collaborative initiative between DRDO and IIT Delhi, established at IIT Delhi. The CoE is developing various quantum communication technologies, including the development of fiber and free-space (polarization/hybrid photon) based Quantum Key Distribution technologies, Quantum sources, Quantum detectors, and Non-linear crystals.
✔️ DRDO & IIT Delhi organise demonstration of Quantum Communication Technologies
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