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arXiv:1301.2383 · Journal of Lightwave Technology

A Real-Time QKD System Based on FPGA

Hongfei Zhang, Jian Wang, Ke Cui, Chun-Li Luo, Sheng-zhao Lin, Lei Zhou, Hao Liang, Teng‐Yun Chen, Kai Chen, Jian-Wei Pan

Published Sep 7, 2012• 72 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A real-time quantum key distribution (QKD) system is developed in this paper. In the system, based on the feature of a field-programmable gate array, secure key extraction control and algorithm have been optimally designed to perform sifting, error correction, and privacy amplification altogether in real time. In the QKD experiment, information synchronization mechanism and high-speed classic data channel are designed to ensure the steady operation of the system. Decoy state and synchronous laser light source are used in the system, while the length of optical fiber between Alice and Bob is 20 km. With photons repetition frequency of 20 MHz, the final key rate could reach 17 kb/s. Smooth and robust operation is verified with 6 h continuous test and associated with encrypted voice communication test.

DOI
10.1109/jlt.2012.2217394

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A real-time quantum key distribution (QKD) system is developed in this paper. In the system, based on the feature of a field-programmable gate array, secure key extraction control and algorithm have been optimally designed to perform sifting, error correction, and privacy amplification altogether in real time. In the QKD experiment, information synchronization mechanism and high-speed classic data channel are designed to ensure the steady operation of the system. Decoy state and synchronous laser light source are used in the system, while the length of optical fiber between Alice and Bob is 20 km. With photons repetition frequency of 20 MHz, the final key rate could reach 17 kb/s. Smooth and robust operation is verified with 6 h continuous test and associated with encrypted voice communication test.
The development of a quantum key distribution (QKD) system on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platform is the subject of this paper. A quantum cryptographic protocol is designed based on the properties of quantum information and the characteristics of FPGAs. The proposed protocol performs key extraction, reconciliation, error correction, and privacy amplification tasks to generate a perfectly secret final key. We modeled the presence of the spy in our system with a strategy to reveal some of the exchanged information without being noticed. Using an FPGA card with a 100 MHz clock frequency, we have demonstrated the evolution of the error rate as well as the amounts of mutual information (between the two interlocutors and that of the spy) passing from one step to another in the key generation process.
In the process of quantum key distribution (QKD), error correction algorithm is used to correct the error bits of the key at both ends. The existing applied QKD system has a low key rate and is generally Kbps of magnitude. Therefore, the performance requirement of data processing such as error correction is not high. In order to cope with the development demand of high-speed QKD system in the future, this paper introduces the Winnow algorithm to realize high-speed parity and hamming error correction based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and explores the performance limit of this algorithm. FPGA hardware implementation can achieve the scale of Mbps bandwidth, with choosing different group length of sifted key by different error rate, and can achieve higher error correction efficiency by reducing the information leakage in the process of error correction, and improves the QKD system’s secure key rate, thus helping the future high-speed QKD system.
We report the first quantum-key-distribution (QKD) systems capable of delivering sustainable, real-time secure keys continuously at rates exceeding 10 Mb/s. To achieve such rates, we developed high-speed postprocessing modules, achieving maximum data throughputs of 60 MC/s, 55 Mb/s, and 108 Mb/s for standalone operation of sifting, error correction, and privacy amplification modules, respectively. The photonic layer of the QKD systems features high-speed single-photon detectors based on self-differencing InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, phase encoding using an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and active stabilization of the interferometer phase and photon polarization. An efficient variant of the decoy-state BB84 protocol is implemented for the security analysis, with a large dataset size of 108bits selected to mitigate finite-size effects. Over a 2-dB channel, a record secure key rate of 13.72 Mb/s has been achieved averaged over 4.4 days of operation. We confirm the robustness and long-term stability on a second QKD system continuously running for 1 month without any user invention.
Compared with discrete variable quantum key distribution, the Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution (CVQKD) system has the advantages of simple equipment, low technical difficulty, and high channel capacity, in addition to unconditional security and detectability for wiretapping. In this paper, the laser light source control system realizes the control and adjustment functions of the photon quantum state, which was encoded with information. In order to generate the synchronous optical pulse signals, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), multi-channel Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), and micro power Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) were used to control the synchronous optical laser. The control of multiple amplitude modulators and phase modulators is achieved based on the FPGA and high-speed DAC. At present, the electronics performance test of the laser light source control system has been completed, and the results show that the requirements of the CVQKD system index are met.
For high-speed quantum key distribution systems, error reconciliation is often the bottleneck affecting system performance. By exchanging common information through a public channel, the identical key can be generated on both communicating sides. However, the necessity to eliminate disclosed bits for security reasons lowers the final key rate. To improve this key rate, the amount of disclosed bits should be minimized. In addition, decreasing the time spent on error reconciliation also improves the key rate. In this paper, we introduce a practical method for expeditious error reconciliation implemented in a field programmable gate array for a discrete variable quantum key distribution system, and illustrate the superiority of this method to other similar algorithms running on a PC. Experimental results demonstrate the rapidity of the proposed protocol.
The development of quantum computer technology has brought unprecedented threats to traditional cryptography methods. So far, the combination of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and one-time pad cryptography is the best solution to overcome the problem since it makes provable information-theoretic secure encryption possible. While the final key generation rate of most QKD systems cannot meet the needs of practical applications. One of the important reasons is the unsatisfied performance of communication scheme of classical channel in the QKD post processing system (QKDPPS). In this paper, an efficient FPGA-based communication scheme of classical channel in high speed QKD system is presented. Considering the following features of high transmission speed, multiple data types, large data quantity and strict data sequence of the communication over classical channel in a high-speed QKD system, the optical fiber is chosen as the communication medium and a high performance transmission protocol suitable for QKD is designed, including the packeting strategy based on data exchange rate and a reliability assurance scheme on the data link layer. The experimental results demonstrate that our communication scheme can provide stable communication service at 1.66 Gbps for a high-speed QKD system.