Secure communications with low-orbit spacecraft using quantum cryptography
Abstract
Apparatus and method for secure communication between an earth station and spacecraft. A laser outputs single pulses that are split into preceding bright pulses and delayed attenuated pulses, and polarized. A Pockels cell changes the polarization of the polarized delayed attenuated pulses according to a string of random numbers, a first polarization representing a "1," and a second polarization representing a "0." At the receiving station, a beamsplitter randomly directs the preceding bright pulses and the polarized delayed attenuated pulses onto longer and shorter paths, both terminating in a beamsplitter which directs the preceding bright pulses and a first portion of the polarized delayed attenuated pulses to a first detector, and a second portion of the polarized delayed attenuated pulses to a second detector to generate a key for secure communication between the earth station and the spacecraft.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Jemez Springs, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872585
- Patent Number(s):
- 5966224
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Los Alamos, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H04 - ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE H04L - TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- secure; communications; low-orbit; spacecraft; quantum; cryptography; apparatus; method; communication; earth; station; laser; outputs; single; pulses; split; preceding; bright; delayed; attenuated; polarized; pockels; cell; changes; polarization; according; string; random; representing; receiving; beamsplitter; randomly; directs; shorter; paths; terminating; portion; detector; generate; key; laser output; pockels cell; single pulse; receiving station; secure communication; orbit space; laser outputs; /359/380/
Citation Formats
Hughes, Richard J, Buttler, William T, Kwiat, Paul G, Luther, Gabriel G, Morgan, George L, Nordholt, Jane E, Peterson, Charles G, and Simmons, Charles M. Secure communications with low-orbit spacecraft using quantum cryptography. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Hughes, Richard J, Buttler, William T, Kwiat, Paul G, Luther, Gabriel G, Morgan, George L, Nordholt, Jane E, Peterson, Charles G, & Simmons, Charles M. Secure communications with low-orbit spacecraft using quantum cryptography. United States.
Hughes, Richard J, Buttler, William T, Kwiat, Paul G, Luther, Gabriel G, Morgan, George L, Nordholt, Jane E, Peterson, Charles G, and Simmons, Charles M. Fri .
"Secure communications with low-orbit spacecraft using quantum cryptography". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872585.
@article{osti_872585,
title = {Secure communications with low-orbit spacecraft using quantum cryptography},
author = {Hughes, Richard J and Buttler, William T and Kwiat, Paul G and Luther, Gabriel G and Morgan, George L and Nordholt, Jane E and Peterson, Charles G and Simmons, Charles M},
abstractNote = {Apparatus and method for secure communication between an earth station and spacecraft. A laser outputs single pulses that are split into preceding bright pulses and delayed attenuated pulses, and polarized. A Pockels cell changes the polarization of the polarized delayed attenuated pulses according to a string of random numbers, a first polarization representing a "1," and a second polarization representing a "0." At the receiving station, a beamsplitter randomly directs the preceding bright pulses and the polarized delayed attenuated pulses onto longer and shorter paths, both terminating in a beamsplitter which directs the preceding bright pulses and a first portion of the polarized delayed attenuated pulses to a first detector, and a second portion of the polarized delayed attenuated pulses to a second detector to generate a key for secure communication between the earth station and the spacecraft.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999}
}
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