Practical Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution over 1 km
W. T. Buttler, Richard Hughes, Paul G. Kwiat, S. K. Lamoreaux, G. G. Luther, George L. Morgan, J. E. Nordholt, Charles G. Peterson, Charles M. Simmons · Physical Review Letters · 1998
A working free-space quantum key distribution system has been developed and tested over an outdoor optical path of $\ensuremath{\sim}1\mathrm{km}$ at Los Alamos National Laboratory under nighttime conditions. Results show that free-space quantum key distribution can provide secure real-time key distribution between parties who have a need to communicate secretly. Finally, we examine the feasibility of surface to satellite quantum key distribution.