In Association With the Journal Optica, Protecting Quantum Data From Turbulence — With Aaron Cardoso

"All Things Photonics" is teaming up with the journal Optica to bring you insights on the latest studies leading to breakthroughs in optics and photonics. Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows encrypted information to be distributed without being intercepted. In free-space QKD, however, fluctuations in atmospheric conditions can cause distortions and impair the retrieval of the encoded information. In a study published in the journal Optica, a research team from the University of Ottawa developed a way to alleviate the effects of atmospheric turbulence on spatial mode transmission, creating an all-optical self-correction scheme for turbulence resilience using stimulated parametric down-conversion (StimPDC)-based optical phase conjugation. Aarón Cardoso, a researcher at the University of Ottawa, joins us to explain why he turned to StimPDC to solve this quantum quandary. "All Things Photonics"® is produced by Photonics Media and airs biweekly, on Tuesdays. Sponsored by: Hamamatsu –  www.Hamamatsu.com Omega Optical - www.omega-optical.com