Influence of satellite motion on polarization qubits in a Space-Earth quantum communication link

In a Space quantum-cryptography experiment a satellite pointing system is needed to send single photons emitted by the source on the satellite to the polarization analysis apparatus on Earth. In this paper a simulation is presented regarding how the satellite pointing systems affect the polarization state of the single photons, to help designing a proper compensation system. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America