Journal of Quantum Optics, Volume. 30, Issue 2, 20304(2024)

The Time-domain Balanced Homodyne Detector with Clock Recovery and Power Monitoring Functions

GUO Xu-bo1, WANG Xu-yang1,2、*, JIA Yan-xiang1, ZHANG Yu1, HOU Yi-zhuo1, and LI yong-min1,2
Author Affiliations
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Opto-Electronics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
  • 2Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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    The time-domain balanced homodyne detector (TBHD) can be used to detect the quadratures of the pulsed optical signal directly, and it is a crucial component of the continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) system. At the receiver side of the CVQKD system, the recovery of clock signal and the monitoring of local oscillator (LO) power is realized using fiber optic couplers, photodetectors and power meters usually. The fiber optical couplers not only reduce the LO power but also introduce security vulnerability. To simplify the structure of the receiver side, reduce the cost and increase the security of CVQKD system, we design and experimentally realize a new type TBHD with clock recovery and power monitoring functions. The detector makes full use of the photoelectron current generated by the cascaded photodiode. It can not only measure the quadratures of the pulsed optical signal, but also monitor the LO power in real-time and generate the clock signal with the same frequency as the LO beam. In experiment, a common mode rejection ratio of 75 dB could be obtained, and a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of 13.50 dB could be measured at a repetition rate of 1 MHz. At the same time, the clock signals with the same frequency as the LO beam were generated, and the output voltage value scales with the LO power was measured. A good linear relationship between the output voltages and the LO powers was obtained. The fitting slope or gain is 2.52×10−7 V/photon, and the sum of residual error squares is 2.51×10−4 V2. Then the output voltage can be used to predict the LO power and the corresponding shot noise variance without using a fiber optical coupler and power meter. The new type TBHD can significantly reduce the complexity and cost of the receiver side of CVQKD system. At the same time, it effectively avoids the security vulnerability due to the varying ratio of the fiber optical coupler and enhance the actual security of the system.

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    GUO Xu-bo, WANG Xu-yang, JIA Yan-xiang, ZHANG Yu, HOU Yi-zhuo, LI yong-min. The Time-domain Balanced Homodyne Detector with Clock Recovery and Power Monitoring Functions[J]. Journal of Quantum Optics, 2024, 30(2): 20304

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    Paper Information

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    Received: Jan. 13, 2023

    Accepted: Dec. 26, 2024

    Published Online: Dec. 25, 2024

    The Author Email: WANG Xu-yang (wangxuyang@sxu.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/jqo20243002.0304

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