The spatial degrees of freedom of MIMO quantum channels
Hailin Xiao, Ouyang Shan, Nie Zaiping, (1)电子科技大学电子工程学院，成都 610054; (2)电子科技大学电子工程学院，成都 610054；桂林电子科技大学信息与通信学院，桂林 541004; (3)桂林电子科技大学信息与通信学院，桂林 541004 · Acta Physica Sinica · 2009
Quantum communication is a process of quantum key distribution （QKD）. Current QKD technology restricts communication to a low bit rate. To improve the QKD bit rate and develop high rate and capacity, we propose a multiple-input-multiple-output quantum key distribution system. However, quantum field itself inevitably involves quantum noise （which is determined by the quantum mechanics ）, which restrains the increase of capacity, and limits space resource utilization, that is, the problem of spatial degrees of freedom arises. The quantumization of the photon field and the electromagnetic wave equation satisfying the Schrdinger equation condition are adopted to investigate the upper bound of the spatial degrees of freedom for MIMO quantum channels, which will provide theoretical support and technical basis for developing robust space time processing algorithm for MIMO quantum communication and designing high performance systems.