Theoretical study of polarization tracking in satellite quantum key distribution

Abstract

The BB84 and B92 protocols based on polarization coding are usually used in free-space quantum key distribution. Polarization tracking technique is one of the key techniques in the satellite quantum key distribution. Because the photon polarization state will be changed as a result of the satellite movement, both the transmitter and receiver need to have the ability to track the polarization orientation variation to accomplish the quantum cryptography protocols. In this paper, the polarization tracking principles are analyzed based on Faraday effect and the half-wave plate. The transforms of six photon polarization states in three conjugative bases are given and the quantum key coding principles based on the polarization tracking are analyzed for the BB84 and B92 protocols.