Complete experimental toolbox for alignment-free quantum communication

摘要

In standard approaches to quantum communication, a qubit is usually encoded by exploiting the polarization of single photons. This choice is mainly due to the ease of manipulation of such degree of freedom as well as the reliability of quantum optics techniques for single photon generation. Although photonic free-space quantum communication has been demonstrated for distances of hundred of kilometers [1], the future development of this technology has to take into account several issues like the problem of beam tracking and atmospheric turbulence.