Self-Calibrating Electronic Controller for Satellite Quantum Entanglement Source

Due to the rapid growth of interest related to Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for secure communication applications, the importance of entangled photon source control and read-out electronics increases. In most cases dedicated laboratory equipment are used to generate, collect and store Quantum Keys for encryption purposes. Reliable and effective quantum key generation at long distances requires an entangled photon pair generator, which is a precise optical device requiring alignment and calibration. Calibration can be performed on the ground before a flight, as well as in-orbit, during a flight. In many cases, this process needs to be performed periodically – once a month or even once a week. An approach with calibration on the ground requires a more sophisticated mechanical design that prevents the decalibration. However, in many cases preventing the decalibration by the mechanical design might not be possible. This paper shows the results of development in the scope of hardware, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and software under Self-Calibrating Electronic Controller for Satellite Quantum Entanglement Source (SECSQES) project.