A Quantum Key Distribution Network Through Single Mode Optical Fiber

Quantum key distribution (QKD) has been developed within the last decade that is provably secure against arbitrary computing power, and even against quantum computer attacks. Now there is a strong need of research to exploit this technology in the existing communication networks. In this paper we have presented various experimental results pertaining to QKD like Raw key rate and Quantum bit error rate (QBER). We found these results over 25 km single mode optical fiber. The experimental setup implemented the enhanced version of BB84 QKD protocol. Based upon the results obtained, we have presented a network design which can be implemented for the realization of large scale QKD networks. Furthermore, several new ideas are presented and discussed to integrate the QKD technique in the classical communication networks.Comment: This paper has been submitted to the 2006 International Symposium on Collaborative Technologies and Systems (CTS 2006)May 14-17, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Modeling optical fiber space division multiplexed quantum key distribution systems

© 2019 Optical Society of America. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited[EN] We report a model to use to evaluate the performance of multiple quantum key distribution (QKD) channel transmission using spatial division multiplexing (SDM) in multicore (MCF) and few-mode fibers (FMF). This model is then used to analyze the feasibility of QKD transmission in 7-core MCFs in two practical scenarios involving the (1) transmission of only QKD channels and (2) simultaneous transmission of QKD and classical channels. In the first case, standard homogeneous MCFs enable transmission distances per core compatible with transmission parameters (distance and net key rate) very close to those of single-core single-mode fibers. For the second case, heterogeneous MCFs must be employed to make this option feasible.European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); Galician Regional Government (project GRC2015/018 and agreement for funding AtlantTIC (Atlantic Research Center for Information and Communication Technologies)); European Research Council (ERC) (Consolidator Grant 724663); Spanish MINECO (TEC2016-80150-R project and Ramon y Cajal fellowship RYC-2014-16247 for I. Gasulla).Ureña-Gisbert, M.; Gasulla Mestre, I.; Fraile, FJ.; Capmany Francoy, J. (2019). Modeling optical fiber space division multiplexed quantum key distribution systems. Optics Express. 27(5):7047-7063. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.27.00704770477063275Gisin, N., Ribordy, G., Tittel, W., & Zbinden, H. (2002). Quantum cryptography. Reviews of Modern Physics, 74(1), 145-195. doi:10.1103/revmodphys.74.145Scarani, V., Bechmann-Pasquinucci, H., Cerf, N. J., Dušek, M., Lütkenhaus, N., & Peev, M. (2009). The security of practical quantum key distribution. 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Polarization Entangled Photon Sources for Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution

Free-space quantum key distribution has recently achieved several milestones, such as the launch and results of the first quantum satellite, Micius. The emergence of quantum satellites has certainly made progress towards the realization of a global quantum cryptographic network. In this thesis, two challenges in the development of an optical quantum ground station for a free-space quantum satellite link are studied. The first is the development of a high brightness, fiber pigtailed waveguide that is to be used as a polarization entangled photon source. The high pair production rate is required in order to meet the requirements for a satellite up-link configuration. The portability, robustness and ease of alignment were motivations for choosing a fiber pigtailed source. Certain challenges that are fundamental to the source design were characterized and several solutions to these challenges were investigated. The other main investigation in this thesis, is the development of a passive polarization compensation using polarization maintaining fibers. The birefringence in standard single mode optical fibers causes random polarization rotations to the light passing through the fiber. Polarization maintaining fibers, though very high in birefringence, are used with entangled photons and techniques from reference frame independent quantum key distribution protocols are shown to compensate for random polarization rotations while preserving the entanglement. In addition, the feasibility of the protocol using the polarization maintaining fibers is investigated. Through various studies, experiments, and component design, the feasibility of a pigtailed waveguide entangled photon source has been shown to need further investigation, while the feasibility of implementing polarization maintaining fibers to the ground station has been shown to be effective. It is particularly effective as a passive polarization compensation system that uses entanglement, however a similar concept is effective for non-entangled single photons. This work contributes to a long line of achievements leading towards satellite implementations of quantum key distribution for an eventual global quantum cryptographic network

Quantum information processing with space-division multiplexing optical fibres

The optical fibre is an essential tool for our communication infrastructure since it is the main transmission channel for optical communications. The latest major advance in optical fibre technology is spatial division multiplexing (SDM), where new fibre designs and components establish multiple co-existing data channels based on light propagation over distinct transverse optical modes. Simultaneously, there have been many recent developments in the field of quantum information processing (QIP), with novel protocols and devices in areas such as computing, communication and metrology. Here, we review recent works implementing QIP protocols with SDM optical fibres, and discuss new possibilities for manipulating quantum systems based on this technology.Comment: Originally submitted version. Please see published version for improved layout, new tables and updated references following review proces

High-dimensional decoy-state quantum key distribution over 0.3 km of multicore telecommunication optical fibers

Multiplexing is a strategy to augment the transmission capacity of a communication system. It consists of combining multiple signals over the same data channel and it has been very successful in classical communications. However, the use of enhanced channels has only reached limited practicality in quantum communications (QC) as it requires the complex manipulation of quantum systems of higher dimensions. Considerable effort is being made towards QC using high-dimensional quantum systems encoded into the transverse momentum of single photons but, so far, no approach has been proven to be fully compatible with the existing telecommunication infrastructure. Here, we overcome such a technological challenge and demonstrate a stable and secure high-dimensional decoy-state quantum key distribution session over a 0.3 km long multicore optical fiber. The high-dimensional quantum states are defined in terms of the multiple core modes available for the photon transmission over the fiber, and the decoy-state analysis demonstrates that our technique enables a positive secret key generation rate up to 25 km of fiber propagation. Finally, we show how our results build up towards a high-dimensional quantum network composed of free-space and fiber based linksComment: Please see the complementary work arXiv:1610.01812 (2016

Feasibility of quantum key distribution through dense wavelength division multiplexing network

In this paper, we study the feasibility of conducting quantum key distribution (QKD) together with classical communication through the same optical fiber by employing dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) technology at telecom wavelength. The impact of the classical channels to the quantum channel has been investigated for both QKD based on single photon detection and QKD based on homodyne detection. Our studies show that the latter can tolerate a much higher level of contamination from the classical channels than the former. This is because the local oscillator used in the homodyne detector acts as a "mode selector" which can suppress noise photons effectively. We have performed simulations based on both the decoy BB84 QKD protocol and the Gaussian modulated coherent state (GMCS) QKD protocol. While the former cannot tolerate even one classical channel (with a power of 0dBm), the latter can be multiplexed with 38 classical channels (0dBm power each channel) and still has a secure distance around 10km. Preliminary experiment has been conducted based on a 100MHz bandwidth homodyne detector.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Field test of quantum key distribution in the Tokyo QKD Network

A novel secure communication network with quantum key distribution in a metropolitan area is reported. Different QKD schemes are integrated to demonstrate secure TV conferencing over a distance of 45km, stable long-term operation, and application to secure mobile phones.Comment: 21 pages, 19 figure

Field test of a practical secure communication network with decoy-state quantum cryptography

We present a secure network communication system that operated with decoy-state quantum cryptography in a real-world application scenario. The full key exchange and application protocols were performed in real time among three nodes, in which two adjacent nodes were connected by approximate 20 km of commercial telecom optical fiber. The generated quantum keys were immediately employed and demonstrated for communication applications, including unbreakable real-time voice telephone between any two of the three communication nodes, or a broadcast from one node to the other two nodes by using one-time pad encryption.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, typos correcte