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arXiv:2501.05829 · Annalen der Physik

Satellite‐Based Communication for Phase‐Matching Measurement‐Device‐Independent Quantum Key Distribution

Arindam Dutta, Subhashish Banerjee, Anirban Pathak

Published Jul 8, 2025• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the feasibility of the phase‐matching measurement‐device‐independent quantum key distribution (PM‐MDI QKD) protocol proposed by Lin and Lütkenhaus for satellite‐based quantum communication. The protocol's key rate, known to exceed the repeaterless PLOB bound, is evaluated in the asymptotic limit under noisy conditions typical of satellite communications, including loss‐only scenarios. The setup involves two ground‐based parties connected via fiber (loss‐only or noisy) and a space‐based third party linked to one of these two ground‐based parties through free‐space communication. Simulations using the elliptic‐beam approximation model the average key rate (AKR) and its probability distribution (PDR) across varying zenith angles and fiber distances. Down‐link free‐space communication is assessed under day and night conditions, with intensity optimization for each graphical point. Dynamic configurations of satellite and ground stations are also considered. Results indicate that AKR decays more slowly under loss‐only conditions, while PDR analysis shows higher key rates produce more concentrated distributions. These findings demonstrate the potential of PM‐MDI QKD protocols for achieving reliable key rates in satellite‐based quantum communication.

DOI
10.1002/andp.202500134

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Abstract This study investigates the feasibility of the phase‐matching measurement‐device‐independent quantum key distribution (PM‐MDI QKD) protocol proposed by Lin and Lütkenhaus for satellite‐based quantum communication. The protocol's key rate, known to exceed the repeaterless PLOB bound, is evaluated in the asymptotic limit under noisy conditions typical of satellite communications, including loss‐only scenarios. The setup involves two ground‐based parties connected via fiber (loss‐only or noisy) and a space‐based third party linked to one of these two ground‐based parties through free‐space communication. Simulations using the elliptic‐beam approximation model the average key rate (AKR) and its probability distribution (PDR) across varying zenith angles and fiber distances. Down‐link free‐space communication is assessed under day and night conditions, with intensity optimization for each graphical point. Dynamic configurations of satellite and ground stations are also considered. Results indicate that AKR decays more slowly under loss‐only conditions, while PDR analysis shows higher key rates produce more concentrated distributions. These findings demonstrate the potential of PM‐MDI QKD protocols for achieving reliable key rates in satellite‐based quantum communication.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol has high practical value. Satellite-based links are useful to build long-distance quantum communication network. The model of satellite-based links for MDI-QKD was proposed but it lacks practicality. This work further analyzes the performance of it. First, MDI-QKD and satellite-based links model are introduced. Then considering the operation of the satellite the performance of their combination is studied under different weather conditions. The results may provide important references for combination of optical-fiber-based links on the ground and satellite-based links in space, which is helpful for large-scale quantum communication network.
Abstract The measurement-device-independent (MDI) quantum key distribution (QKD) is considered to be an alternative to overcome the currently trusted satellite paradigm. However, the feasibility of the space-based MDI-QKD remains unclear in terms of the factors: the high-loss uplink between a ground station and a satellite, the limited duration when two ground stations are simultaneously visible, as well as the rigorous requirements for the two-photon interference when performing the Bell-state measurement. In this paper, we present a feasibility assessment of space-based MDI-QKD based on the Micius satellite. Integrated with the orbital dynamics model and atmosphere channel model, a framework is presented to explore the whole parameters space including orbit height, elevation angle, apertures of transceiver and atmospheric turbulence intensity to give the considerations for improving key rates and subsequently provide a relevant parameter tradeoff for the implementation of space-based MDI-QKD. We further investigate the heart of MDI-QKD, the two-photon interference considerations such as the frequency calibration and time synchronization technology against Doppler shift, and the way of performing the intensity optimization method in the dynamic and asymmetric channels. Our work can be used as a pathfinder to support decisions involving as the selection of the future quantum communication satellite missions.
In this work we analyze a measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol to establish continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD) between two ground stations. We assume communication occurs between the ground stations via satellite over two independent atmospheric-fading channels influenced by turbulence-induced beam wandering. In this MDI protocol the measurement device is the satellite itself, and the security of the protocol is analyzed through an equivalent entanglement-based swapping scheme. We quantify the positive impact the fading channels can have on the final quantum key rates, demonstrating how the protocol is able to generate a positive key rate even over high-loss atmospheric channels provided that the maximum transmission coefficient of the channel is sufficiently large. This is somewhat counter-intuitive given that the same outcome is only possible in the low-loss regime for a measurement device centrally positioned in a fiber-optic channel. Our results show that useful space-based quantum key generation rates between two ground stations are possible even when the relay satellite is held by an adversary. The cost in key rate incurred by altering the status of the satellite from trustworthy to untrustworthy is presented.
In this work, an estimation of the key rate of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol in free space was performed. The examined free space links included satellite-earth downlink, uplink and intersatellite link. Various attenuation effects were considered such as diffraction, atmosphere, turbulence and the efficiency of the detection system. Two cases were tested: asymptotic case with infinite number of decoy states and one-decoy state case. The estimated key rate showed the possibility of applying MDI-QKD in earth-satellite and intersatellite links, offering longer single link distance to be covered.
Abstract Quantum communication in the terahertz (THz) band is an important technology for next‐generation high‐capacity wireless networks, and inter‐satellite quantum key distribution in low‐earth‐orbit (LEO) is one of the critical research directions. A terahertz continuous‐variable measurement‐device‐independent quantum key distribution (CV‐MDI‐QKD) with photon subtraction for secure inter‐satellite link communications, derive the security bounds for the protocol, is proposed and the performance of the inter‐satellite link in the asymptotic limit, in addition to obtaining a tighter protocol bound by considering finite size effects, is evaluated. Through simulation calculations, the method can maintain high secret key rates and robust security, which will provide a more effective way to build future quantum networks.
This study investigates the performance of mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD) over satellite-to-ground free-space channels. A nonuniform atmospheric transmission model is adopted to characterize key loss mechanisms, including turbulence, aerosol scattering, solar interference, and platform-induced beam jitter. Numerical simulations quantify the secret key rate under varying zenith angles and environmental conditions. Results show that increasing zenith angle significantly degrades the key rate because the longer optical path aggravates propagation loss and atmospheric impairment. Under identical atmospheric conditions, nighttime achieves a higher key rate than daytime, mainly because negligible solar interference leads to lower background-photon counts and a reduced QBER. Within the present simplified model, increasing the maximum pairing interval l improves the key rate, although the gain gradually saturates. These findings provide a performance evaluation of MP-QKD in a representative satellite-to-ground free-space configuration and offer practical guidance for parameter selection, environmental-sensitivity analysis, and robust system design.