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arXiv:1709.06655 · Optics Express

Low loss QKD optical scheme for fast polarization encoding

A. Duplinskiy, V. Ustimchik, A. Kanapin, V. Kurochkin, Y. Kurochkin

Published Nov 7, 2017• 43 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present a new optical scheme for BB84 protocol quantum key distribution (QKD). The proposed setup consists of a compact all-fiber polarization encoding optical scheme based on LiNbO3 phase modulators, single laser source and two single-photon detectors. Optical scheme consists of standard telecommunication components and is suitable for both fiber and free-space quantum communication channels. Low losses (~2dB) in Bob's device increase both the key generation rate and distance limit. A new technique for solving polarization mode dispersion (PMD) issue in LiNbO3 is implemented, allowing two crystals to neutralize the effect of each other. Several proof-of-concept experiments have been conducted at 10 MHz repetition frequency over 50 km of standard optical fiber under laboratory conditions and over 30 km of urban fiber with high losses (13dB), which is a link within a QKD network. To achieve this, calibration algorithms have been developed, allowing the system to work autonomously and making it promising for practical applications.

DOI
10.1364/oe.25.028886

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We present a new optical scheme for BB84 protocol quantum key distribution (QKD). The proposed setup consists of a compact all-fiber polarization encoding optical scheme based on LiNbO3 phase modulators, single laser source and two single-photon detectors. Optical scheme consists of standard telecommunication components and is suitable for both fiber and free-space quantum communication channels. Low losses (~2dB) in Bob's device increase both the key generation rate and distance limit. A new technique for solving polarization mode dispersion (PMD) issue in LiNbO3 is implemented, allowing two crystals to neutralize the effect of each other. Several proof-of-concept experiments have been conducted at 10 MHz repetition frequency over 50 km of standard optical fiber under laboratory conditions and over 30 km of urban fiber with high losses (13dB), which is a link within a QKD network. To achieve this, calibration algorithms have been developed, allowing the system to work autonomously and making it promising for practical applications.
We report a proof-of-principle quantum key distribution experiment using a one-way optical scheme with polarization encoding implementing the BB84 protocol. LiNbO 3 phase modulators are used for generating polarization states for Alice and active basis selection for Bob. This allows the former to use a single laser source, while the latter needs only two single-photon detectors. The presented optical scheme is simple and consists of standard fiber components. Calibration algorithm for three polarization controllers used in the scheme has been developed. The experiment was carried with 10 MHz repetition frequency laser pulses over a distance of 50 km of standard telecom optical fiber.
An optical scheme for polarization encoding BB84 protocol is described. Fiber electro-optical LiNbO3 phase modulators based on Pockels cells provide both polarization states generation for Alice and basis choosing for Bob at high frequency, requiring low operation voltages (Vπ < 5V). Proposed scheme uses only one laser source, which guarantee the indistinguishability of the pulses and active basis choosing allows the system to have two single photon detectors in contrast to the four in the standard polarization encoding schemes. Two phase modulators compensate each others’ polarization mode dispersion, caused by the natural birefringence of the lithium niobate crystal. The system consists of standard components and has simple configuration. The principle of operation is experimentally demonstrated.
We report the development of an optical assembly and driving electronics for a low-SWaP polarization encoder design for use in satellite-to-ground quantum communication. The optical design multiplexes multiple lasers, which are selectively excited to produce a polarization encoded output. This implementation is intrinsically stable due to the use of only polarization maintaining fiber in the combining optics. The transmitter, provides a low-cost, low-power and high-speed platform to produce polarization encoded pulses. We use the transmitter to generate 4 polarization states with 2 intensity levels via multiplexing of 8 pulsed light sources. The module can generate the polarization states H, V, D and A, which correspond to polarization angles of 0, 90, 45 and -45 degrees respectively, forming two mutually unbiased bases. The transmitter is characterized via a polarization decoder over a free-space link within a laboratory setting. We characterize the source for varying optical channel loss which is introduced between the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter employs the T12 decoy-state BB84 protocol. We explore the performance of the system with commercially available single photon detectors for two clock rates of 500 MHz and 1 GHz. We find a similar secure key rate for both repetition rates, despite the expected 3 dB gain at 1 GHz. This is a result of detector jitter hindering the performance of the QKD system, resulting in a larger QBER when detection events leak into the adjacent time bins and ultimately reduces the secure key rate.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a potential defense against future quantum attacks that can break traditional encryption algorithms, such as RSA and ECC. The current work is based on the development of the BB84 protocol with the features of utilizing quantum mechanics and eavesdropping detection through signal disturbance. A simulation of the BB84 protocol was built using polarization encoding over a 10 km single-mode optical fiber using OptiSystem software. The system consists of standard telecom equipment, such as a continuous wave laser at a frequency of 193.1 THz, polarization controllers, and single-photon detectors. Both secure and insecure cases were simulated, where an attacker (Eve) had used an intercept-resend attack. The outcome showed significant Bit Error Rate (BER) and Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) increases during attacks, thus proving the protocol's vulnerability to interference. In addition, a special intrusion detection system based on BER was used to identify such anomalies in real-time. The simulation illustrates the feasibility of using QKD in today's optical networks to secure communications.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to exchange a secret key between two parties. Despite its promising features, QKD also faces several practical challenges such as transmission loss, noise in quantum channels and finite key size effects. Addressing these issues is crucial for the large-scale deployment of QKD in fiber and satellite networks. In this paper, we present a 1550 nm QKD system realizing the efficient-BB84 protocol and based on the iPOGNAC scheme. The system achieved repetition rates up to 1.5~GHz and showed an intrinsic QBER of ∼0.4%\sim 0.4\%∼0.4%. The system was first tested on a laboratory fiber link and then on an intermodal link in the field, consisting of both deployed fiber and a 620 m free-space channel. The experiment was performed in daylight conditions, exploiting the Qubit4Sync synchronization protocol. With this trial, we achieved a new benchmark for free-space BB84 QKD systems by generating a sustained secret key rate (SKR) above 1~Mb/s for 1 hour. Finally, exploiting a recently discovered finite-size bound, we achieved a secure key rate of about 10 Mb/s at low losses (5 dB), and around 6.5~kb/s in the high-loss (38.5 dB), low block length (N=104N=10^4N=104) regime. The latter results demonstrate the system's suitability for highly lossy and time-constrained scenarios such as QKD from low Earth orbit satellites.
A novel integrated optical source capable of emitting faint pulses with different polarization states and with different intensity levels at 100 MHz has been developed. The source relies on a single laser diode followed by four semiconductor optical amplifiers and thin film polarizers, connected through a fiber network. The use of a single laser ensures high level of indistinguishability in time and spectrum of the pulses for the four different polarizations and three different levels of intensity. The applicability of the source is demonstrated in the lab through a free space quantum key distribution experiment which makes use of the decoy state BB84 protocol. We achieved a lower bound secure key rate of the order of 3.64 Mbps and a quantum bit error ratio as low as 1.14×10⁻² while the lower bound secure key rate became 187 bps for an equivalent attenuation of 35 dB. To our knowledge, this is the fastest polarization encoded QKD system which has been reported so far. The performance, reduced size, low power consumption and the fact that the components used can be space qualified make the source particularly suitable for secure satellite communication.