Quantum key distribution is an application of quantum physics that allows two distant partners to securely distribute shared random secrets which they can use for secure message encryption, authentication or other communication tasks. In this thesis, I study and implement several concepts, protocols and their components, in particular single photon detectors. I evaluate its compatibility with fiber infrastructures with the aim to improve applicability, performance and profitability of quantum key distribution in different scenarios. I present superconducting single photon detectors implemented for long distance quantum communication, as well as semiconductor detectors employing rapid sine gating schemes. Wavelength-multiplexing of quantum and classical communication channels is demonstrated to stabilize a polarization-encoded quantum channel against birefringence fluctuations, and to realize quantum and encrypted communication over one fiber. An implementation of the coherent one-way protocol is presented which features a hardware distillation engine, wavelength-multiplexing, and an analysis of finite key effects and authentication costs.
Quantum key distribution is an application of quantum physics that allows two distant partners to securely distribute shared random secrets which they can use for secure message encryption, authentication or other communication tasks. In this thesis, I study and implement several concepts, protocols and their components, in particular single photon detectors. I evaluate its compatibility with fiber infrastructures with the aim to improve applicability, performance and profitability of quantum key distribution in different scenarios. I present superconducting single photon detectors implemented for long distance quantum communication, as well as semiconductor detectors employing rapid sine gating schemes. Wavelength-multiplexing of quantum and classical communication channels is demonstrated to stabilize a polarization-encoded quantum channel against birefringence fluctuations, and to realize quantum and encrypted communication over one fiber. An implementation of the coherent one-way protocol is presented which features a hardware distillation engine, wavelength-multiplexing, and an analysis of finite key effects and authentication costs.
Quantum cryptography uses the quantum properties of individual photons to provide two or more users with means to communicate securely and efficiently. Specifically, quantum key distribution (QKD) focuses on the secure communication between two distant parties and guarantees the security of a transmitted message between them. Although QKD is the most mature application of quantum cryptography, applications of quantum mechanics in communication systems are not limited to QKD and other cryptographic protocols can be implemented as well. This thesis focuses on the implementation of quantum cryptographic systems over deployed fiber. A first QKD system was built and used to demonstrate the BB84 protocol over deployed fiber between the University of Calgary and SAIT. The system implemented a novel tool called quantum frames that allow for the quantum signals to be routed, for clock synchronization, and for channel stabilization in a network scenario. The same system was used to examine the scalability of the secret key generation rate in different steps of the process in order to detect potential bottlenecks for key generation rate of high speed systems. A second QKD system was developed to demonstrate the measurement-device independent QKD protocol. The system worked over deployed fiber between the University of Calgary, SAIT, and Foothills Hospital in the City of Calgary. The advantage of the measurement-device independent QKD protocol over previous QKD protocols is that it eliminates the possibility of side-channel attacks that target single photon detectors used in QKD systems. This demonstration also involved the first demonstration of a Bell state measurement over deployed fiber. Bell state measurements were further studied by using novel single photon detectors, which allowed demonstrating a highly efficient Bell measurement. Finally, a cryptographic protocol known as private queries was demonstrated between the University of Calgary and SAIT. Quantum private queries were demonstrated for the first time over deployed fiber by developing and implementing an error correction scheme to make the protocol noise and loss tolerant.
Due to the fast-paced advancements of the quantum computing field, current public key cryptographic protocols need to be rethought. One promising solution is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), whose security is robust to any computational advancement. The security of QKD relies on the laws of quantum mechanics, ensuring that any eavesdropper attempting to access the data will be detected. In particular, polarization-encoding QKD systems allow to generate secret keys in two remote locations to encode/decode information, using the State of Polarization (SOP) of single photons. Although its security has been theoretically proven, its practical implementation poses some challenges, part of which are the main focus of this PhD thesis. One relevant process in QKD systems is the synchronization between the transmitter and receiver, namely, the frame synchronization. This way, in this thesis, a frame synchronization method is developed and implemented, showing its potential for the use in prepare-and-measure QKD systems. The developed method has been shown to be effective, even with a low number of photons reaching the receiver. Furthermore, its architecture allows it to be adjusted for different attenuation regimes of the QKD system. The ability to encode data on the physical properties of single photons, in this case, polarization, highly depends on the capacity to accurately generate the required polarization states on demand. This way, an automatic SOP generation method, comprising an optical polarization monitoring system and a dedicated algorithm was developed and implemented, capable of generating four SOPs. This method reached an average Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of 0.75%, which is well below the security threshold. After the SOP generation, and their transmission through the quantum channel, polarization alignment algorithms are required to compensate for the random rotations induced by birefringence in the optical fiber. In this thesis, a non-iterative polarization compensation method was implemented. This method requires only three QBER estimations to re-align the polarization, reaching average QBERs of 1.8%. Additionally, multiple iterative methods were implemented for comparison purposes, with the results clearly showing a better efficiency of the deterministic method. Beyond fiber-based transmissions, free-space transmissions were analysed due to their ability to reach sites without installed fiber and due to its potential for satellite-based quantum communications. This thesis demonstrates the feasibility of polarization-encoding QKD over free-space channels, by subjecting quantum signals to atmospheric turbulence to study its impact. In that sense, polarization variations over a 1.8 km outdoor free-space channel were monitored, to understand the effect of atmospheric turbulence on polarization. These results have shown that SOP variations in free-space links are slow, allowing their compensation. Furthermore, it was identified that, under conditions tested, the Secret Key Rate (SKR) could reach values up to 8.7×10ˉ⁴ bits per second, allowing QKD over free space for distances up to 2.31 km.
It is well known that optical access networks are able to provide high data rates over long distances and to a reasonable number of users. Security and privacy are always a challenge for public accessible network infrastructures. Especially in time-division multiplexing passive optical networks (TDM-PONs), in which the downstream signal is broadcasted to all users connected via the same wavelength channel in a shared fiber link, privacy can be a critical concern. Although encryption at the application layer can provide a high level of security, this can be achieved only if the encryption key distribution is perfectly save. On the other hand, encryption on the physical layer such as quantum cryptography or, more precisely, quantum key distribution (QKD) is a very promising approach to achieve secure communication. However, there remain several issues that have to be solved before the quantum cryptography reaches the maturity level needed for a cost effective implementation in practical networks. In this paper, we address quantum key distribution (QKD) over passive optical access networks, which is an enabling technology required to cost efficiently deploy practical quantum encrypted data communication in the access area. We study different methods to integrate QKD systems in conventional optical access networks and quantitatively evaluate their suitability for a potential implementation.
In this dissertation it is realized a study about quantum key distribution (QKD) in optical networks. Initially, a review of the theory of quantum key distribution and some of its implementations with strongly attenuated coherent states, as well a review of an optical system for physical encryptation using mesoscopic coherent states are realized. Following, it is analyzed the use of an error correction scheme in the physical encryptation system, and two new schemes for quantum key distribution are proposed. The first is a possible implementation of a hybrid system, that is, using weak and mesoscopic coherent states, for QKD and quantum authentication of classical messages. The second is an implementation of a QKD system based on relative phase modulation of sidebands frequency, using two RF carriers and an amplitude modulator in Alice and a phase modulator in Bob. After, an experimental realization of a simple QKD setup using polarization states of strongly attenuated coherent states for B92 protocol is presented. At last, it is realized an experimental characterization of an optical receiver for optical communication applications.
We present a compactly integrated, 625 MHz clocked coherent one-way quantum key distribution system which continuously distributes secret keys over an optical fibre link. To support high secret key rates, we implemented a fast hardware key distillation engine which allows for key distillation rates up to 4 Mbps in real time. The system employs wavelength multiplexing in order to run over only a single optical fibre. Using fast gated InGaAs single photon detectors, we reliably distribute secret keys with a rate above 21 kbps over 25 km of optical fibre. We optimized the system considering a security analysis that respects finite-key-size effects, authentication costs and system errors for a security parameter of ε QKD = 4 × 10 −9 .