IIT Delhi and DRDO Collaborate to Demonstrate India's Progress in Quantum Communication

IIT Delhi and DRDO DIA-CoE showcased advancements in quantum communication technologies, achieving breakthroughs in Quantum Key Distribution across fiber and free space, establishing a strong national footprint.

IIT Delhi and DRDO

The DRDO Industry Academia - Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi demonstrated quantum communication technologies. As part of their collaborative efforts, they developed entanglement-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for robust and secure communication. This included a successful laboratory demonstration of entanglement distribution and QKD over a 50 km fiber link, as well as a field test achieving entanglement distribution and QKD over an 8 km optical fiber.

The DRDO DIA-CoE is a collaborative initiative between DRDO and IIT Delhi, established at IIT Delhi. The CoE is developing various quantum communication technologies like the development of fibre and free-space (polarization/hybrid photon) based Quantum Key Distributions Technologies, Quantum Sources, Quantum Detectors and Non-linear Crystals.

Quantum Communication Technologies

In a notable quantum research initiative, Free-space Entanglement Distribution using the BBM-92 protocol was demonstrated, achieving Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) between two tables separated by 20 meters in the lab and 80 meters in open space, showcasing short-range free-space quantum communication.

Additionally, an innovative experiment demonstrated Hybrid Entanglement in a free-space setup, achieving a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of approximately 6% over a 10-meter distance in the lab. Researchers are also exploring QKD systems with multiple independent channels powered by a single source, paving the way for versatile, multi-protocol quantum communication systems.

Additionally, efforts have been initiated to indigenize key components such as quantum sources and detectors, including single-photon sources on LNOI, SNSPDs, and periodically poled nonlinear crystals. These projects, launched at IIT Delhi in collaboration with DRDO labs like DYSL-QT and SSPL, are funded by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management under its deep tech initiatives to drive cutting-edge innovations in defence technology.

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