title: After-pulse-discarding in single-photon detection to reduce bit errors in quantum key distribution.
abstract: We demonstrate fiber-optic quantum key distribution (QKD) at 1550 nm using single-photon detectors operating at 5 MHz. Such high speed single-photon detectors are essential to the realization of efficient QKD. However, after-pulses increase bit errors. In the demonstration, we discard after-pulses by measuring time intervals of detection events. For a fiber length of 10.5 km, we have achieved a key rate of 17 kHz with an error of 2%.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuchida