Next Big Future December 24, 2018
Researchers in Italy have reported on the first experimental exchange of single photons from Global Navigation Satellite System at a slant distance of 20000 kilometers, by exploiting the retroreflector array mounted on GLONASS satellites. They observed the predicted temporal spread of the reflected pulses due to the geometrical shape of array. They provide estimated the requirements needed for an active source on a satellite, aiming towards quantum communication from GNSS with state-of-the-art technology… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Illustrative representation (to scale) of the typical distance (≈ 20000 km) between GLONASS terminals and the MLRO ground station in Italy. Credit: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1804.05022.pdf