A narrow-band single-photon source (10) is disclosed, along with a QKD
system (200) using same. The single-photon source is based on spontaneous
parametric downconversion that generates signal and idler photons (PS and
PI) as an entangled photon pair. Narrow-band signal photons are generated
by selectively narrow-band-filtering the idler photons. This results in a
non-local filtering of the signal photons due to the time-energy
entanglement of the photon pair. Subsequent detection of the filtered
idler photon establishes the narrow-band signal photon. The narrow-band
single-photon source is particularly useful in a QKD system, wherein the
narrow-band signal photons are used as quantum signals to mitigate the
adverse effect of chromatic dispersion on QKD system performance.