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arXiv:2311.14104 · AVS Quantum Science

Single-photon-based clock analysis and recovery in quantum key distribution

Mujtaba Zahidy, Domenico Ribezzo, Ronny Müller, Jasper Riebesehl, Alessandro Zavatta, Michael Galili, Leif Katsuo Oxenløwe, Davide Bacco

Published Dec 1, 2023• 10 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum key distribution is one of the first quantum technologies ready for the market. Current quantum telecommunication systems usually utilize a service channel for synchronizing the transmitter (Alice) and the receiver (Bob). However, the possibility of removing this service channel and exploiting a clock recovery method are intriguing for future implementation, both in fiber and free-space links. In this paper, we investigate criteria to recover the clock in a quantum communication scenario and experimentally demonstrated the possibility of using a quantum-based clock recovery system in a time-bin quantum key distribution protocol. The performance of the clock recovery technique, in terms of quantum bit error rate and secret key rate, is equivalent to using the service channel for clock sharing.

DOI
10.1116/5.0167549

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Quantum key distribution is one of the first quantum technologies ready for the market. Current quantum telecommunication systems usually utilize a service channel for synchronizing the transmitter (Alice) and the receiver (Bob). However, the possibility of removing this service channel and exploiting a clock recovery method are intriguing for future implementation, both in fiber and free-space links. In this paper, we investigate criteria to recover the clock in a quantum communication scenario and experimentally demonstrated the possibility of using a quantum-based clock recovery system in a time-bin quantum key distribution protocol. The performance of the clock recovery technique, in terms of quantum bit error rate and secret key rate, is equivalent to using the service channel for clock sharing.
Quantum key distribution allows for a provably secure transmission of cryptographic keys over an optical channel. Encoded polarization states or time-bin degree of freedom have been used for successful demonstrations. However, photon losses in long fibers, slow single photon detectors, and detector dark counts significantly limit the overall bit rate. Improving key throughput and reducing the overhead of key reconciliation remain as major challenges. Methods which utilize multiple time bins allow for multiple key bits to be encoded in a single photon, thus increasing the fidelity of transmitted keys and decreasing the overhead of key reconciliation in real-world conditions. Previous implementations of these methods required that Alice and Bob share a time reference by sharing a dedicated classical channel used for synchronization. This work presents a technique that allows two parties to exchange time-bin encoded photons without the need for synchronized time references. Our technique uses a framing protocol which allows Alice to encode a time reference along with a key which is determined by Alice before transmission. Security can be achieved by monitoring the visibility of a pair of Franson interferometers, using decoy pulses and measuring the round trip time between Alice and Bob. The bit rate of this technique is limited only by the recovery time of the detector and the speed of the modulation electronics. We experimentally demonstrate a raw bit rate of 5Mb/s over an optical channel with 55dB of loss, which is competitive with current research. We also demonstrate absolute timing synchronization with an accuracy of 20ps.
Clock synchronization is critical for maintaining low error rates in quantum key distribution. Here, we describe how a frequency mismatch between the transmitter and receiver clocks affects the quantum bit error rate in quantum key distribution, and derive from this model a simple synchronization algorithm together with clock stability requirements for practical operation. Our algorithm continuously compensates for both frequency mismatch and time-offset fluctuations directly from detection timestamps. It does not require a dedicated synchronization channel or auxiliary qubit sequence, converges from a large frequency mismatch within approximately one second of photon acquisition, and remains effective in low-photon-count regimes (more than 30 dB of channel loss) using standard hardware. We validate our approach by demonstrating successful key exchange over 100 km of fiber and continuous operation over 24 hours in a 16 km metropolitan network using commercial systems, with performance equivalent to using a service channel for clock synchronization.
Precise synchronization between a transmitter and receiver is crucial for quantum communications protocols such as quantum key distribution (QKD) to efficiently correlate the transmitted and received signals and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. In this work, we introduce a synchronization technique that exploits a co-propagating classical optical communications link and tests its performance in a free-space QKD system. Previously, existing techniques required additional laser beams or relied on the capability to retrieve the synchronization from the quantum signal itself; this approach, however, is not applicable in high channel loss scenarios. On the contrary, our method exploits classical and quantum signals locked to the same master clock, allowing the receiver to synchronize both the classical and quantum communications links by performing a clock-data-recovery routine on the classical signal. In this way, by exploiting the same classical communications already required for post-processing and key generation, no additional hardware is required, and the synchronization can be reconstructed from a high-power signal. Our approach is suitable for both satellite and fiber infrastructures, where a classical and quantum channel can be transmitted through the same link.
Time synchronization is a crucial requirement in quantum key distribution (QKD)8 protocols, ensuring accurate key generation via the correct assignment of bits of raw key and9 enabling eavesdropping detection via the precise recording of photon statistics. State-of-the-art10 experiments typically use an extra channel to synchronize the clocks of the transmitter and receiver11 via classical signals. In this work, we study the possibility of performing clock synchronization12 via the signals used for the key generation, which are already present in decoy-state-based BB8413 protocols.14 Without altering the protocol in any way, we use the different mean photon numbers of the15 signal and decoy states for time synchronization without a dedicated physical channel capable of16 clock synchronization. The proposed method relies only on the photons sent and received for17 key generation and does not require any change to the QKD protocol. The only change in the18 experiment is on the software level, thus making it very simple to implement.19 We demonstrate clock synchronization method in a simulation of a specific fiber-based QKD20 experiment. Like other decoy-state-based BB84 protocols, it is based on weak coherent pulses.21 In this simulation, we investigate the parameter space to find limits and optimal choices of our22 proposed method.23 In addition to the non-protocol-altering clock synchronization method, we also discuss an24 approach that significantly improves performance in lossy channels by introducing an additional25 decoy state with a very high mean photon number.26 By eliminating the need for an extra channel capable of clock synchronization, both methods27 proposed potentially reduce the complexity and cost of QKD systems and improve their agility
Quantum key distribution is a quantum communication protocol which seeks to address potential vulnerabilities in data transmission and storage. One of the main challenges in the field is achieving high rates of secret key in lossy and turbulent free-space channels. In this scenario, most experimental demonstrations have used the polarization of photons as their qubit carriers, due to the relative robustness of polarization in free-space propagation. Time-bin or phase-based protocols are considered less practical due to the wave-front distortion caused by atmospheric turbulence. However, demonstrations of novel free-space interferometer designs are enabling interferometers to measure multimodal signals with high visibility. That means it is now viable to consider the prospects of implementing time-bin or phase-based protocols, which have demonstrated high key rates and long transmission distances in optical fiber. In this work, we present the possibilities of implementing time-bin protocols in turbulent free-space channels, using the coherent one-way protocol as the example. We present an analysis of the secret key rate and quantum bit error rate of the system, providing the errors due to noise counts, and the extinction ratio of the pulses. Finally, we developed a model to quantify the expected losses for a turbulence free-space channel, specifically for a free-space satellite-to-ground station channel.
We present the implementation of a time synchronization protocol as a part of an experimentally deployed entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) link. The system is deployed over 48 km of optical fibers across the Métropole Côte d'Azur and enables secret cryptographic key exchange between two remote users, with an average rate of 7 kbps. We exploit the time correlation of paired photons generated by a high-quality source of energy-time entanglement implemented in the QKD link to synchronize two rubidium clocks located at the end stations. The level of stability achieved guarantees a time offset between the clocks under 12 ps at all time. We also show that this protocol requires less hardware than a typical synchronization protocol for QKD that would distribute a reference clock signal between the users.