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arXiv:2406.13916 · EPJ Quantum Technology

A reconfigurable entanglement distribution network suitable for connecting multiple ground nodes with a satellite

Stéphane Vinet, Ramy Tannous, Thomas D. Jennewein

Published Jan 22, 2025• 10 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Satellite-based quantum communication channels are important for ultra-long distances. Given the short duration of a satellite pass, it can be challenging to efficiently connect multiple users of a city-wide network while the satellite is passing over that area. We propose a network with dual-functionality: during a brief satellite pass, the ground network is configured as a multipoint-to-point topology where all ground nodes establish entanglement with a satellite receiver. During times when this satellite is not available, the satellite up-link is rerouted via a single optical switch to the ground nodes, and the network is configured as a pair-wise ground network. We numerically simulate a pulsed hyper-entangled photon source and study the performance of the proposed network configurations for quantum key distribution. We find favourable scaling in the case that the satellite receiver exploits time-multiplexing whereas the ground nodes utilize frequency-multiplexing. The scalability, simple reconfigurability, and easy integration with fibre networks make this architecture a promising candidate for quantum communication of many ground nodes and a satellite, an important step towards interconnection of ground nodes at a global scale.

DOI
10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00305-w

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Satellite-based quantum communication channels are important for ultra-long distances. Given the short duration of a satellite pass, it can be challenging to efficiently connect multiple users of a city-wide network while the satellite is passing over that area. We propose a network with dual-functionality: during a brief satellite pass, the ground network is configured as a multipoint-to-point topology where all ground nodes establish entanglement with a satellite receiver. During times when this satellite is not available, the satellite up-link is rerouted via a single optical switch to the ground nodes, and the network is configured as a pair-wise ground network. We numerically simulate a pulsed hyper-entangled photon source and study the performance of the proposed network configurations for quantum key distribution. We find favourable scaling in the case that the satellite receiver exploits time-multiplexing whereas the ground nodes utilize frequency-multiplexing. The scalability, simple reconfigurability, and easy integration with fibre networks make this architecture a promising candidate for quantum communication of many ground nodes and a satellite, an important step towards interconnection of ground nodes at a global scale.
We experimentally demonstrate a reconfigurable quantum network architecture suitable for integrating satellite links in metropolitan quantum networks. The network architecture is designed such that once a satellite is in range, it is configured in a multipoint-to-point topology where all ground nodes establish entanglement with the satellite receiver using time multiplexing to optimize long-distance transmission. Otherwise, the satellite up-link can be rerouted to the ground nodes to form a pair-wise ground network. Leveraging both the time and frequency correlations of our photon-pair source, we demonstrate an increased coincidence-to-accidental ratio without additional resource overhead in a five-node network. To contextualize these experimental findings, we project their performance in a quantum key distribution scenario and outline a feasible route toward field deployment, using integrated photonics to enable network integration of up to 72 users.
We present a satellite-compatible reconfigurable quantum network architecture. During the satellite-pass the network adopts a point-to-multipoint topology where all the users communicate with the satellite, whereas outside of a satellite pass, the signal is rerouted to form a fully-connected network between the ground users. Exploiting multiplexing techniques, we show simulation results that indicate that this scheme can be used to enhance the secure key rate and to connect a multitude of users on the ground with minimal hardware requirements.
Satellite-based quantum links are a promising enabler of long-distance entanglement distribution, overcoming the exponential losses of optical fibers. In uplink architectures, entangled photons are generated at ground stations and transmitted to orbiting satellites, reducing space-segment complexity but introducing significant atmospheric and geometric losses. Single-satellite dual-uplink configurations are additionally limited by the requirement of simultaneous visibility between both ground stations and the satellite. In this work, we investigate a dual-uplink dual-satellite network architecture and compare its performance with the single-satellite scheme under identical physical assumptions. The proposed topology introduces an inter-satellite link (ISL) that decouples the ground-station separation from the atmospheric uplink geometry. A realistic channel model is employed, incorporating geometric attenuation, atmospheric turbulence, background noise, and Bell-state measurement efficiency. The overall success probability and practical fidelity are evaluated as functions of satellite altitude and ground-station separation. Our results show that while the single-satellite configuration is suitable for regional-scale networks, it becomes infeasible for large separations due to geometric constraints. The proposed dual-satellite architecture mitigates this limitation and significantly extends the achievable communication distance, representing a key step toward scalable quantum internet infrastructures.
Finding a realistic and efficient scheme that allows for the distribution of entanglement at global scales constitutes a challenging task with a satisfactory solution yet to be found. Due to the exponential losses experienced in optical fibers and the absence of a direct line-of-sight between opposite sides of Earth, employing a quantum repeater chain will likely be inevitable to achieve this task. Long-distance terrestrial fiber connections would require a huge number of intermediate repeater nodes and is further hindered by inaccessible terrain, so that quantum repeaters realized via free-space optical links between satellites constitute a promising alternative. These, however, introduce their own set of challenges, such as the dynamic behaviour of the satellites in orbit and a high baseline of losses due to the satellite-to-ground connection. In this work, we discuss the general scaling properties of free-space optical quantum repeaters and combine them with the geometric constraints imposed by satellite connections to propose and assess a two-node two-satellite quantum repeater architecture that allows entanglement distribution at truly global scales whilst also being able to adaptively be used as a one-node one-satellite repeater to efficiently cover shorter distances. We provide an analysis of the connection time and the effective transmission and show that two MEO satellites are sufficient to distribute entanglement between ground stations with arbitrary distances inside the orbital plane. We deem our architecture as one of the most promising in terms of performance, connection distance and flexibility whilst using only two satellites, alleviating the extreme technical challenge of realizing a quantum repeater constellation.
Long-distance quantum key distribution (QKD) is a critical component of a quantum network. When network users are within a city, they often use existing telecommunication fiber-optic networks. This method is problematic for QKD on a large scale between cities and countries. Direct connecting of distant consumers with quantum single-photon lines is not possible, because optical fiber involves attenuation. This problem is addressed by constructing a large number of trusted intermediate nodes, but there are concerns with the reliability of each node. To increase the quantum network's dependability, a method of building a satellite quantum network is actively developing. The only one trusted satellite node is required for satellite QKD between any two points on the Earth's surface. Furthermore, a satellite quantum link can also be utilized to add another communication channel in the existing fiber-optic networks that are thousands of kilometers apart. We describe the creation of ground infrastructure elements for receiving single photons in various polarization quantum states from satellites. Ground-based receiving nodes are based on two telescopes with an aperture of 1.2 m and 0.6 m located in remote cities.
Quantum repeaters and satellite-based free-space optical links are complementary technological approaches slated to overcome the exponential photon loss occurring in optical fibers and thus allow Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) at global scales. We analyse architectures where these approaches are combined and satellites are used as quantum repeater nodes to distribute entanglement to far-away optical ground stations. Here, we simulate dynamical, three-dimensional satellite-ground-station passes, going beyond previous investigations which typically consider static satellite links. Therefore, we numerically solve the equations of motion of the dynamic system consisting of three, low-Earth-orbit satellites separated in the along-track direction. The optical link model includes atmospheric attenuation, single mode fiber coupling, beam wandering and broadening, as well as adaptive optics effects. Analytical expressions for the Bell state measurement and associated error rates are derived for quantum memory assisted communications, accounting for exponentially decreasing retrieval efficiency and state coherence. We consider uplink and downlink architectures for continental and inter-continental connections and assess the influence of varying orbital elements on the expected. We also investigate alternative solutions for realising practically secure QKD networks in the near-term, whereby trusted nodes are only located in space and relatively inaccessible. By exploiting the newly introduced mode-pairing QKD protocol, we show that users located hundreds of kilometres from a ground station could establish a secure key with a satellite using well-established technologies and without requiring intermediate trusted nodes.