In our continuous variable quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme, the homodyne detection set-up requires balancing the intensity of an incident beam between two photodiodes. Realistic lens systems are insufficient to provide a spatially stable focus in the presence of large spatial beam-jitter caused by atmospheric transmission. We therefore present an improved geometry for optical tapers which offer up to four times the angular tolerance of a lens. The effective area of a photodiode can thus be increased, without decreasing its bandwidth. This makes them suitable for use in our free space QKD experiment and in free space optical communication in general.
@article{arxiv.0910.3063,
title = {Enhanced free space beam capture by improved optical tapers},
author = {Tim Bartley and Bettina Heim and Dominique Elser and Denis Sych and Metin Sabuncu and Christoffer Wittmann and Norbert Lindlein and Christoph Marquardt and Gerd Leuchs},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0910.3063},
year = {2010}
}
Comments
8 pages, 4 figures. Version 2: references added, minor content revisions. To appear in QuantumComm 2009, LNICST 36, Springer (2010)