Quantum technologies play a central role in establishing new ways of quantum-secured communication. We investigate Free-Space Quantum Communication and explore the advantage of implementing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with weak coherent states produced by a light source in the Mid-Infrared (>3μm). We simulate time-bin encoded quantum key distribution and demonstrate that a free-space QKD link operating in the Mid-infrared outperforms configurations based on conventional near-infrared wavelengths under various weather scenarios, with a particular significance in adverse meteorological conditions.
@article{arxiv.2508.13008,
title = {Free-space time-bin encoded quantum key distribution from near- to mid-infrared wavelengths},
author = {Claudia De Lazzari and Tecla Gabbrielli and Natalia Bruno and Francesco Cappelli and Domenico Ribezzo and Nicola Biagi and Nicola Corrias and Simone Borri and Mario Siciliani de Cumis and Paolo De Natale and Davide Bacco and Alessandro Zavatta},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.13008},
year = {2025}
}