Patent attributes
The invention provides an apparatus and method for time delaying different polarization components of a signal relative to one another, comprising a polarization signal splitter which splits first and second polarization components of an input signal into a first component signal and a second component signal such that said first component signal propagates along a first path and the second component signal propagates along a second path, wherein said first component signal reaches a location relative to when said second component reaches said location at times differing by a delayed time, and use of the apparatus in a communication system. The apparatus may be used for quantum cryptography, to convert a sender's polarization-qubit signal into a signal appropriate for channels and receivers based on phase-encoded schemes.
