Francesco Vedovato

Francesco Vedovato

RTDA

Francesco Vedovato got his Master degree in Physics in 2015 and a Ph.D. degree in Space Science and Technology at the University of Padova (UNIPD) in 2019 (Supervisor: Prof. Paolo Villoresi). During his PhD in experimental quantum optics, he focused on the realization of quantum optics experiments in Space collaborating with the Matera Laser Ranging Observatory of the Italian Space Agency. He has worked since 2015 in the QuantumFuture Group of the Department of Information Engineering at UNIPD. His research is focused on quantum optics, quantum communication in fiber, free-space and satellite channels. He has various peer-review publications in international journals in the area of experimental quantum optics and quantum key distribution.

Relevant research achievements include the first demonstration of the feasibility of time-bin encoding along satellite-to-ground channels [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 253601 (2016)]; the realization of Wheeler’s delayed-choice experiment along 3500 km via satellite channels [Sci. Adv. 3, e1701180 (2017)], the design and first implementation of an experimental scheme for realizing genuine time-bin entanglement [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 190401 (2018)], the demonstration of the feasibility of satellite quantum communication over distances up to GNSS orbits [Quantum Sci. Technol. 4, 015012 (2019)], the realization of a prototype for daylight quantum key distribution at 1550 nm exploiting integrated photonics [npj Quantum Inf. 7, 93 (2021)], the realization of a record-low QBER source for quantum key distribution at 1550 nm [Optica 7, 284-290 (2020)], the introduction of a convenient formalism to evaluate the phase of a light signal propagating on a general curved background [Phys. Rev. D 101, 104052 (2020)]. He was funded by the COST Action "Quantum technologies in Space" to spend a period abroad at the Centre de Physique Theorique de Luminy under the scientific supervision of prof. Carlo Rovelli. His project “GaliQEye: Galileo’s Quantum Eye at DEI” was granted by the Department of Information Engineering to develop the optical ground station placed on the roof of DEI department. He is participating in different national and international projects (I-QKD, QSEC, QUANGO, QUDICE, Moonlight-2, QSNP, QUANCOMM) on quantum communication. He is one of the founder of the Padua's OSA/SPIE Student Chapter "Pulse". He is co-founder of and developer for the UNIPD startup company ThinkQuantum srl, aimed at developing QKD systems for secure communication, with particular focus on free-space optical technologies, adaptive-optics and ground station implementation.

He is currently teaching the course "Quantum Methods for ICT" for the master degrees at DEI and the course "Quantum Communication: methods and implementations" for the PhD course in Information Engineering.

Publications

Miscellaneous

2.

GHz-rate polarization-based QKD system for fiber and satellite applications

Matías Rubén Bolaños; Edoardo Rossi; Federico Berra; Alberto De Toni; Ilektra Karakosta-Amarantidou; Daniel Christian Lawo; Costantino Agnesi; Marco Avesani; Andrea Stanco; Francesco Vedovato; Paolo Villoresi; Giuseppe Vallone

2026.

1.

Quantum satellites and tests of relativity

Piergiovanni Magnani; Matteo Schiavon; Alexander R. H. Smith; Daniel R. Terno; Giuseppe Vallone; Francesco Vedovato; Paolo Villoresi; Sai Vinjanampathy

2019.

Journal Articles

18.

Intermodal Quantum Key Distribution Field Trial with Active Switching between Fiber and Free-Space Channels

Francesco Picciariello; Ilektra Karakosta-Amarantidou; Edoardo Rossi; Marco Avesani; Giulio Foletto; Luca Calderaro; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi; Francesco Vedovato

In: EPJ Quantum Technol., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 6, 2025, ISSN: 2662-4400, 2196-0763.

17.

Quantum-Secured Time Transfer between Precise Timing Facilities: A Field Trial with Simulated Satellite Links

Francesco Picciariello; Francesco Vedovato; Davide Orsucci; Pablo Nahuel Dominguez; Thomas Zechel; Marco Avesani; Matteo Padovan; Giulio Foletto; Luca Calderaro; Daniele Dequal; Amita Shrestha; Ludwig Blümel; Johann Furthner; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi; Tobias D. Schmidt; Florian Moll

In: GPS Solut, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 48, 2024, ISSN: 1080-5370, 1521-1886.

16.

Proposal for an Optical Interferometric Measurement of the Gravitational Redshift with Satellite Systems

Daniel R. Terno; Francesco Vedovato; Matteo Schiavon; Alexander R. H. Smith; Piergiovanni Magnani; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Phys. Rev. D, vol. 108, no. 8, pp. 084063, 2023, ISSN: 2470-0010, 2470-0029.

15.

Optimal Design and Performance Evaluation of Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution Systems

Alessia Scriminich; Giulio Foletto; Francesco Picciariello; Andrea Stanco; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi; Francesco Vedovato

In: Quantum Sci. Technol., vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 045029, 2022, ISSN: 2058-9565.

14.

Deployment-Ready Quantum Key Distribution Over a Classical Network Infrastructure in Padua

Marco Avesani; Giulio Foletto; Matteo Padovan; Luca Calderaro; Costantino Agnesi; Elisa Bazzani; Federico Berra; Tommaso Bertapelle; Francesco Picciariello; Francesco B. L. Santagiustina; Davide Scalcon; Alessia Scriminich; Andrea Stanco; Francesco Vedovato; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 1658–1663, 2022, ISSN: 0733-8724, 1558-2213.

13.

Full Daylight Quantum-Key-Distribution at 1550 Nm Enabled by Integrated Silicon Photonics

Marco Avesani; Luca Calderaro; Matteo Schiavon; Andre Stanco; Costantino Agnesi; Alberto Santamato; Mujtaba Zahidy; Alessia Scriminich; Giulio Foletto; Giampiero Contestabile; Marco Chiesa; Davide Rotta; Massimo Artiglia; Antonio Montanaro; Marco Romagnoli; Vito Sorianello; Francesco Vedovato; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: npj Quantum Inf, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 93, 2021, ISSN: 2056-6387.

12.

Resource-Effective Quantum Key Distribution: A Field Trial in Padua City Center

Marco Avesani; Luca Calderaro; Giulio Foletto; Costantino Agnesi; Francesco Picciariello; Francesco B. L. Santagiustina; Alessia Scriminich; Andrea Stanco; Francesco Vedovato; Mujtaba Zahidy; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Opt. Lett., vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 2848, 2021, ISSN: 0146-9592, 1539-4794.

11.

Large-Scale Optical Interferometry in General Spacetimes

Daniel R. Terno; Giuseppe Vallone; Francesco Vedovato; Paolo Villoresi

In: Phys. Rev. D, vol. 101, no. 10, pp. 104052, 2020, ISSN: 2470-0010, 2470-0029.

10.

Simple Quantum Key Distribution with Qubit-Based Synchronization and a Self-Compensating Polarization Encoder

Costantino Agnesi; Marco Avesani; Luca Calderaro; Andrea Stanco; Giulio Foletto; Mujtaba Zahidy; Alessia Scriminich; Francesco Vedovato; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Optica, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 284, 2020, ISSN: 2334-2536.

9.

Sub-Ns Timing Accuracy for Satellite Quantum Communications

Costantino Agnesi; Luca Calderaro; Daniele Dequal; Francesco Vedovato; Matteo Schiavon; Alberto Santamato; Vincenza Luceri; Giuseppe Bianco; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. B59, 2019, ISSN: 0740-3224, 1520-8540.

8.

Towards Quantum Communication from Global Navigation Satellite System

Luca Calderaro; Costantino Agnesi; Daniele Dequal; Francesco Vedovato; Matteo Schiavon; Alberto Santamato; Vincenza Luceri; Giuseppe Bianco; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Quantum Sci. Technol., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 015012, 2018, ISSN: 2058-9565.

7.

Postselection-Loophole-Free Bell Violation with Genuine Time-Bin Entanglement

Francesco Vedovato; Costantino Agnesi; Marco Tomasin; Marco Avesani; Jan-Åke Larsson; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 121, no. 19, pp. 190401, 2018, ISSN: 0031-9007, 1079-7114.

6.

Exploring the Boundaries of Quantum Mechanics: Advances in Satellite Quantum Communications

Costantino Agnesi; Francesco Vedovato; Matteo Schiavon; Daniele Dequal; Luca Calderaro; Marco Tomasin; Davide G. Marangon; Andrea Stanco; Vincenza Luceri; Giuseppe Bianco; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A., vol. 376, no. 2123, pp. 20170461, 2018, ISSN: 1364-503X, 1471-2962.

5.

Extending Wheeler's Delayed-Choice Experiment to Space

Francesco Vedovato; Costantino Agnesi; Matteo Schiavon; Daniele Dequal; Luca Calderaro; Marco Tomasin; Davide G. Marangon; Andrea Stanco; Vincenza Luceri; Giuseppe Bianco; Giuseppe Vallone; Paolo Villoresi

In: Sci. Adv., vol. 3, no. 10, pp. e1701180, 2017, ISSN: 2375-2548.

4.

Interference at the Single Photon Level Along Satellite-Ground Channels

Giuseppe Vallone; Daniele Dequal; Marco Tomasin; Francesco Vedovato; Matteo Schiavon; Vincenza Luceri; Giuseppe Bianco; Paolo Villoresi

In: Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 116, no. 25, pp. 253601, 2016, ISSN: 0031-9007, 1079-7114.

Proceedings Articles

3.

Satellite Quantum Communication towards GEO Distances

Giuseppe Vallone; Daniele Dequal; M. Tomasin; M. Schiavon; F. Vedovato; Davide Bacco; Simone Gaiarin; Giuseppe Bianco; Vincenza Luceri; Paolo Villoresi

In: Stuhler, Jürgen; Shields, Andrew J. (Ed.): SPIE Photonics Europe, pp. 99000J, Brussels, Belgium, 2016.