Practical quantum cryptography based on two-photon interferometry

Abstract

We propose an experimental realization of cryptographic-key-sharing scheme exploiting quantum correlations between pair photons. Our experimental setup consists of an external source of correlated photon pairs which propagate to two widely separated unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The probability of detection of photon pairs in any two outputs of the interferometers can be fully modulated by phase plates in either interferometer.