Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: To date, quantum communication widely relies on attenuated lasers for secret key generation. In future quantum networks fundamental limitations resulting from their probabilistic photon distribution must be overcome by using deterministic quantum light sources. Confined excitons in monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) constitute a novel type of emitter for quantum light generation. These atomically-thin solid-state sources show appealing prospects for large-scale and low-cost device integration, meeting the demands of quantum information technologies. Here, we pioneer the practical suitability of TMDC devices in quantum communication. We employ a WSe2 monolayer single-photon source to emulate the BB84 protocol in a quantum key distribution (QKD) setup and achieve raw key rates of up to 66.95 kHz and antibunching values down to 0.034 - a performance competitive with QKD experiments using semiconductor quantum dots or color centers in diamond. Our work opens the route towards wider applications of quantum information technologies using TMDC single-photon sources.
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Awards: Unique Light-Matter Interactions with Two-Dimensional Materials, G4707226979, G7941236271, G8063967526, G8646136844, Verbundprojekt: Ein quantengesichertes Campusnetzwerk basierend auf sub-Poissonschen Quantenlichtquellen - tubLAN_Q0 -, Teilvorhaben: Ein Quantennetzwerk auf dem Campus der TU Berlin
OpenAlex ID: W4318313448