US 12,483,339 B2
Photon source and method for quantum communication
Alberto Comin, Blagnac (FR)
Assigned to Airbus SAS, Blagnac (FR)
Filed by Airbus SAS, Blagnac (FR)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/480,107.
Claims priority of application No. 22199971 (EP), filed on Oct. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0121011 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. H04B 10/00 (2013.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01); H04B 10/70 (2013.01); H04J 14/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 10/70 (2013.01) [G02B 6/4206 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photon source for quantum communication, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels, each comprising:
a light emitter configured to emit optical pulses, and
a phase mask optically connected to the respective light emitter and configured to encode an orbital angular momentum into incident light,
wherein each of the phase masks of each optical channel is configured to encode a mutually orthogonal orbital angular momentum to the optical pulses emitted by the light emitter of each optical channel to provide an encoded optical output;
a controller electrically coupled to each light emitter in each optical channel and configured to control parameters of the optical pulses; and
combining optics configured to combine the encoded optical output of each of the optical channels to form a single encoded optical communication signal.