University of Waterloo

Purpose

This study will investigate interfaces and systems for quantum communication satellites, with two main research thrusts. First is to prepare the groundwork for a link from a Quantum Ground Station (QGS) with the anticipated QEYSSat mission at three ground station sites: the University of Waterloo’s QGS (QGS-UW), the DLR-operated QGS (QGS-OGSOP), and the primary QGS at CSA in St-Hubert (QGS-SHUB). At QGS-SHUB and QGS-UW, this work includes the definition of optical interfaces, mode of operations, transmitter beam quality/wavefront analysis, exchange of data, definition of a channel metrology setup, as well as specifications of groundbased sources and networks. Paper studies on channel characterization will be conducted at QGS-OGSOP. The second is to conduct atmospheric channel and site characterization to study light pollution and how the atmosphere affects the quantum channel at QGS-SHUB and QGS-UW. These studies will lay the ground work for potentially connecting any combination of these sites in the future.