Bell’s shadows from satellites

Abstract Establishing reliable quantum links between a network of satellites and ground stations is a crucial step towards realizing a wide range of satellite-based quantum protocols, including global quantum networks, distributed sensing, quantum key distribution, and quantum clock synchronization. In this article, we envision a network of satellites and ground stations where quantum links are created through the exchange of entangled photon pairs. We simulate the dynamics of a satellite constellation and a set of Bell tests between the constellation and ground stations. We identify the regions on Earth where Bell tests can be successfully conducted with a satellite or a set of them, at a specified level of confidence. These regions move with the constellation and will be referred to as Bell violation shadows . We demonstrate that these shadows provide valuable insights for the study and evaluation of many satellite-mediated or satellite-assisted quantum protocols.