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arXiv:1112.3218 · IEEE Transactions on Communications

Multiple-Access Quantum Key Distribution Networks

Mohsen Razavi

Published Jul 30, 2012• 73 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

This paper addresses multi-user quantum key distribution networks, in which any two users can mutually exchange a secret key without trusting any other nodes. The same network also supports conventional classical communications by assigning two different wavelength bands to quantum and classical signals. Time and code division multiple access (CDMA) techniques, within a passive star network, are considered. In the case of CDMA, it turns out that the optimal performance is achieved at a unity code weight. A listen-before-send protocol is then proposed to improve secret key generation rates in this case. Finally, a hybrid setup with wavelength routers and passive optical networks, which can support a large number of users, is considered and analyzed.

DOI
10.1109/tcomm.2012.072612.110840

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This paper addresses multi-user quantum key distribution networks, in which any two users can mutually exchange a secret key without trusting any other nodes. The same network also supports conventional classical communications by assigning two different wavelength bands to quantum and classical signals. Time and code division multiple access (CDMA) techniques, within a passive star network, are considered. In the case of CDMA, it turns out that the optimal performance is achieved at a unity code weight. A listen-before-send protocol is then proposed to improve secret key generation rates in this case. Finally, a hybrid setup with wavelength routers and passive optical networks, which can support a large number of users, is considered and analyzed.
We propose a low-complexity near-optimal wavelength allocation technique for quantum key distribution access networks that rely on wavelength division multiple access. Such networks would allow users to send quantum and classical signals simultaneously on the same optical fiber infrastructure. Users can be connected to the access network via optical wireless or wired links. We account for the background noise present in the environment, as well as the Raman noise generated by classical channels, and calculate the secret key generation rate for quantum channels in the finite-key setting. This allows us to examine the feasibility of such systems in realistic scenarios when the secret key exchange needs to be achieved in a limited time scale. Our numerical results show that, by proper choice of system parameters for this noisy system, it is possible to exchange a secret key in tens of seconds. Moreover, our proposed algorithm can enhance the key rate of quantum channels, especially in high noise and/or high loss regimes of operation.
Future communications networks not only should enable massive exchange of classical bits, but also the transmission of quantum bits on which many quantum applications rely. This will be the key to offering quantum technologies in a cost-efficient way, and it should encompass the integration of quantum and classical networks at the core of existing optical communications networks, as well as at the access end of such networks. In this work, we cover a range of proposals that enable such an integration for one of the imminent applications of quantum technologies, i.e., quantum key distribution (QKD), by which users can securely exchange a secret key for their cryptographic needs. This will include using wavelength division multiplexing techniques to send quantum and classical data on the same fiber as well as wireless access for QKD users to passive optical networks. In each case, we explore optimal arrangements to find the best way forward for an amicable coexistence.
We propose orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), as a spectrally efficient multiplexing technique, for quantum key distribution at the core of trusted-node quantum networks. Two main schemes are proposed and analyzed in detail, considering system imperfections, specifically, time misalignment issues. It turns out that while multiple service providers can share the network infrastructure using the proposed multiplexing techniques, no gain in the total secret key generation rate is obtained if one uses conventional passive all-optical OFDM decoders. To achieve a linear increase in the key rate with the number of channels, an alternative active setup for OFDM decoding is proposed, which employs an optical switch in addition to conventional passive circuits. We show that by using our proposed decoder, the bandwidth utilization is considerably improved as compared to conventional wavelength-division multiplexing techniques.
This study presents the design and analysis of a hybrid multi-user quantum key distribution (QKD) system utilizing spectral amplitude coding optical code division multiple access (SAC-OCDMA) encoding techniques. By assigning unique optical codes to each user, SAC-OCDMA enables spontaneous, asynchronous data transmission without any strict synchronization, which makes it scalable and flexible for quantum networks. In the architecture, each user’s quantum signal, initially prepared as weak coherent pulses and encoded using phase or polarization bases, is further spectrally sliced by a SAC-OCDMA encoder in a zero-based cross-correlation code. The physical impairments, comprising spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and crosstalk, were modeled and analyzed. We report a maximum secret key rate of ∼10 5 bps over a transmission distance of ∼58km . Furthermore, our analysis demonstrates that careful selection of launch power, simultaneous users, code weight, and spectral bin width is necessary for optimizing the trade-off between multi-user capacity and security performance. In comparison with wave division multiplexing QKD, which has much better spectral efficiency but strict channel allocation, the flexibility and asynchronous access to secure communication of our OCDMA-QKD design with zero cross-correlation coding are more aligned with the needs of quantum security.
In this paper, low-complexity channel allocation methods are proposed for quantum access networks. We consider dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing passive optical network (DWDM-PON) structures that enable users to exchange secret keys, in addition to data transmission. We consider two main sources of noise in such systems, Raman scattering and four-wave mixing, and examine optimal channel allocation in different scenarios. We also take into account finite-key effects in the quantum key distribution (QKD) channels. Our numerical results show that the proposed wavelength assignment methods can significantly enhance the secret key generation rate of users.