Active polarization control for quantum communication in long-distance optical fibers with shared telecom traffic

5 p. : il., tab.We experimentally demonstrate the compatibility of wavelength multiplexed active polarization stabilization for quantum communication in an optical fiber carrying telecom traffic. One of the feedback control channels contains a 9.953 Gb/s datastream generated from a BER meter. We verify the ability to transmit single-photons in the two opposite directions of a 23-km optical fiber spool, while maintaining their state of polarization stable and a classical BER in the feedback channel error-free, during 6 h of continuous operation. VC 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2661–2665, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop2632