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arXiv:2606.09217

Satellite-Based Quantum Communication: Performance Evaluation of Discrete-Variable Quantum Key Distribution Protocols

Muskan

quant-phSubmitted Jun 8, 2026• Announced Jun 9, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has emerged as a fundamentally secure approach to communication in the era of quantum computing, offering protection against threats posed to classical cryptographic schemes such as RSA and Diffie-Hellman. This thesis presents a comprehensive performance analysis of satellite-based QKD protocols, focusing on both prepare-and-measure and entanglement-based schemes under realistic atmospheric and operational conditions. The study begins by introducing the theoretical foundations of quantum communication, including qubits, entanglement, and quantum entropy, and motivates the need for satellite-based QKD to overcome the distance limitations of fiber-based systems. Subsequently, the thesis evaluates four prominent QKD protocols-BB84, B92, BBM92, and E91-using a circular beam propagation model that incorporates atmospheric effects such as diffraction, turbulence, attenuation, and pointing errors, along with environmental noise contributions for uplink and downlink. Comparative numerical simulations reveal that protocol performance is strongly influenced by channel asymmetries, beam propagation characteristics, and noise, providing guidance on optimal protocol selection for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite links. The research further investigates high-dimensional (HD) QKD protocols, specifically HD-BB84 and HD-Extended B92, using the elliptic-beam approximation to account for turbulence-induced distortions for both uplink and downlink. Simulations under vary ing system dimensions, weather conditions, and zenith angles demonstrate that HD-BB84 achieves higher key rates, superior noise tolerance, and more favorable probability distributions of the key rate compared to HD-Extended B92, highlighting the advantages of high-dimensional encoding for robust satellite-based QKD.

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Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has emerged as a fundamentally secure approach to communication in the era of quantum computing, offering protection against threats posed to classical cryptographic schemes such as RSA and Diffie-Hellman. This thesis presents a comprehensive performance analysis of satellite-based QKD protocols, focusing on both prepare-and-measure and entanglement-based schemes under realistic atmospheric and operational conditions. The study begins by introducing the theoretical foundations of quantum communication, including qubits, entanglement, and quantum entropy, and motivates the need for satellite-based QKD to overcome the distance limitations of fiber-based systems. Subsequently, the thesis evaluates four prominent QKD protocols-BB84, B92, BBM92, and E91-using a circular beam propagation model that incorporates atmospheric effects such as diffraction, turbulence, attenuation, and pointing errors, along with environmental noise contributions for uplink and downlink. Comparative numerical simulations reveal that protocol performance is strongly influenced by channel asymmetries, beam propagation characteristics, and noise, providing guidance on optimal protocol selection for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite links. The research further investigates high-dimensional (HD) QKD protocols, specifically HD-BB84 and HD-Extended B92, using the elliptic-beam approximation to account for turbulence-induced distortions for both uplink and downlink. Simulations under vary ing system dimensions, weather conditions, and zenith angles demonstrate that HD-BB84 achieves higher key rates, superior noise tolerance, and more favorable probability distributions of the key rate compared to HD-Extended B92, highlighting the advantages of high-dimensional encoding for robust satellite-based QKD.
Satellite-based free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a practical framework for achieving secure global communication beyond the limitations of optical fibers. In this work, the quantum bit error rate (QBER) and secure key rate of four representative protocols-BB84, B92, BBM92, and E91 are investigated over low earth orbit (LEO) links in both uplink and downlink configurations. The optical link is modeled using a Gaussian beam formalism, incorporating the effects of diffraction, pointing errors, atmospheric turbulence, and background noise contributions. The protocols are examined under day and night-time operating conditions, and their dependence on the zenith angle is analyzed. The findings show that downlink links generally exhibit lower QBER and higher secure key rates than uplinks, and among prepare-and-measure schemes, BB84 consistently outperforms B92, while in entanglement-based approaches, BBM92 achieves higher key rates than E91.
Optical quantum communication utilizing satellite platforms has the potential to extend the reach of quantum key distribution (QKD) from terrestrial limits of ∼200 km to global scales. We have developed a thorough numerical simulation using realistic simulated orbits and incorporating the effects of pointing error, diffraction, atmosphere and telescope design, to obtain estimates of the loss and background noise which a satellite-based system would experience. Combining with quantum optics simulations of sources and detection, we determine the length of secure key for QKD, as well as entanglement visibility and achievable distances for fundamental experiments. We analyse the performance of a low Earth orbit satellite for downlink and uplink scenarios of the quantum optical signals. We argue that the advantages of locating the quantum source on the ground justify a greater scientific interest in an uplink as compared to a downlink. An uplink with a ground transmitter of at least 25 cm diameter and a 30 cm receiver telescope on the satellite could be used to successfully perform QKD multiple times per week with either an entangled photon source or with a weak coherent pulse source, as well as perform long-distance Bell tests and quantum teleportation. Our model helps to resolve important design considerations such as operating wavelength, type and specifications of sources and detectors, telescope designs, specific orbits and ground station locations, in view of anticipated overall system performance.
This paper develops a hybrid quantum channel model tailored for finite-regime quantum key distribution (QKD) in free-space satellite quantum communication. The channel model addresses the fading characteristics of satellite-to-ground links while incorporating the dynamics of satellite orbits. By conducting a comprehensive security analysis under finite-size effects and collective attacks, the research bridges the theoretical and practical aspects of satellite-based QKD. Critical parameters, such as reconciliation efficiency, transmission coefficient, detection efficiency, receiver telescope aperture, beam waist, and effective communication time, are systematically investigated to optimize the secret key rate. The study reveals key trade-offs between the influence of satellite altitude on communication windows, noise levels, and synchronization, which significantly impact quantum channel efficiency. The model improves the accuracy of free-space quantum channel evaluations by presenting a hybrid noise framework that combines quantum Poissonian noise with classical additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). Our numerical results demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of finite-regime QKD for uplink and downlink configurations in various atmospheric conditions, highlighting the superiority of satellite-based quantum communication over conventional networks.
Quantum computing poses significant threats to conventional cryptographic techniques such as RSA and AES, motivating the need for quantum secure communication methods. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) offers information theoretic security based on fundamental quantum principles. This paper presents a simulation-based analysis of well-known QKD protocols, namely BB84, B92, and E91, using the IBM Qiskit framework. Realistic quantum channel effects, including noise, decoherence, and eavesdropping, are modeled to evaluate protocol performance. Key metrics such as error rate, secret key generation, and security characteristics are analyzed and compared. The study highlights practical challenges in QKD implementation, including hardware limitations and channel losses, and discusses insights toward scalable and robust quantum communication systems. The results support the feasibility of QKD as a promising solution for secure communication in the quantum era.
Abstract Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security for future communication networks by exploiting the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. However, satellite-to-ground QKD links suffer significant performance degradation due to atmospheric turbulence, absorption, scattering, and satellite-induced pointing errors. This paper investigates the BB84 QKD protocol over a Free-Space Optical (FSO) channel modeled using the Gamma–Gamma distribution, which accurately captures both small-scale and large-scale atmospheric irradiance fluctuations. Closed-form and numerical results for outage probability and Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) are presented under weak, moderate, and strong turbulence regimes. The Secure Key Rate (SKR) is analyzed as a function of link distance under clear and foggy weather conditions. Additionally, the impact of satellite vibration is evaluated using a jitter-dependent pointing error model, demonstrating that misalignment significantly reduces link reliability. Simulation results show that strong turbulence conditions introduce more than 15 dB SNR penalty compared to clear-sky operation, while haze conditions limit QKD range to under 8–10 km. These findings provide practical performance benchmarks for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) quantum downlinks in realistic atmospheric environments. The results provide practical insights for electronic receiver design and system implementation of satellite quantum communication links.
Satellite quantum communications are emerging within the panorama of quantum technologies as a more effective strategy to distribute completely secure keys at very long distances, therefore playing an important role in the architecture of a large-scale quantum network.In this work, we apply and extend recent results in free-space quantum communications to determine the ultimate limits at which secret (and entanglement) bits can be distributed via satellites.Our study is comprehensive of the various practical scenarios, encompassing both downlink and uplink configurations, with satellites at different altitudes and zenith angles.It includes effects of diffraction, extinction, background noise, and fading, due to pointing errors and atmospheric turbulence (appropriately developed for slant distances).Besides identifying upper bounds, we also discuss lower bounds, i.e., achievable rates for key generation and entanglement distribution.In particular, we study the composable finite-size secret key rates that are achievable by protocols of continuous variable quantum key distribution, for both downlink and uplink, showing the feasibility of this approach for all configurations.Finally, we present a study with a sun-synchronous satellite, showing that its key distribution rate is able to outperform a ground chain of ideal quantum repeaters.