First quantum transfer from aircraft to earth

German researchers managed to conduct an experiment with the transfer of quantum information from an aircraft to the ground. They used a protocol called BB84, which uses polarized photons to transmit a quantum key from an aircraft flying at almost 300 km/h. The signal was received at a ground station 20 km away.

The existing recordings of the transmission of quantum information by photons were carried out over longer and longer distances (144 km was reached in autumn), but between fixed points on the earth. The main problem of quantum communication between moving points is the stabilization of polarized photons. To reduce noise, it was necessary to additionally stabilize the relative position of the transmitter and receiver.

Photons from the aircraft to the ground were transmitted at 145 bits per second using a modified standard laser communication system.