Work

Monolithically Integrated Silicon Photonic Transceiver for Compact CV-QKD

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) is a promising technology for enabling quantum-secure networks, valued for its compatibility with conventional telecommunication hardware and maturing security proofs. Although the need for quantum-safe infrastructure is driven by the threat of advancing quantum computing, the widespread deployment of QKD remains elusive because current discrete-component solutions suffer from high cost, high energy consumption, and lack of conformity with the existing telecom network infrastructure. In this work, we demonstrate a compact CV-QKD system based on a custom-designed, monolithically integrated silicon photonic dualpolarization transceiver, operated with an off-chip seed laser. Taking into account the block length of 2 × 107 and employing 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) shaped probabilistically, our system achieves a secret key rate of 1.9 Mbit/s in 25km of standard single-mode fiber. This work highlights the significant potential of electronic-photonic integration to advance the practical deployment of QKD networks.

Source: Journal of Lightwave Technology

DOI: 10.1109/jlt.2026.3713826