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Electronics Letters

Simultaneous quantum cryptographic key distributionand conventional data transmission over installed fibre using wavelength-divisionmultiplexing

Paul D. Townsend

Published Jan 30, 1997• 193 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is used to add a secure quantum key distribution channel (λ = 1300 nm) to a conventional 1.2 Gbit/s data channel (λ ~1550 nm) operating over 28 km of installed fibre in BT's London and East Anglia multi-service network testbed (LEANET). Error-free operation of the data channel is demonstrated with no degradation of the quantum channel performance.

DOI
10.1049/el:19970147

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Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is used to add a secure quantum key distribution channel (λ = 1300 nm) to a conventional 1.2 Gbit/s data channel (λ ~1550 nm) operating over 28 km of installed fibre in BT's London and East Anglia multi-service network testbed (LEANET). Error-free operation of the data channel is demonstrated with no degradation of the quantum channel performance.
We demonstrate quantum key distribution (QKD) with bidirectional 10 Gb/s classical data channels in a single fiber using dense wavelength division multiplexing. Record secure key rates of 2.38 Mbps and fiber distances up to 70 km are achieved. Data channels are simultaneously monitored for error-free operation. The robustness of QKD is further demonstrated with a secure key rate of 445 kbps over 25 km, obtained in the presence of data lasers launching conventional 0 dBm power. We discuss the fundamental limit for the QKD performance in the multiplexing environment.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a new technique for secure key distribution based on the laws of physics rather than mathematical or algorithmic computational complexity used by current systems. Understanding the compatibility of QKD at 1310 nm with the existing commercial optical networks bearing classical wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) channels at 1550 nm is important to advance the deployment of QKD systems in such networks. The minimum wavelength separation for multiplexing QKD and WDM channels on a shared fiber is experimentally determined for impairment-free QKD+WDM transmission.
We demonstrate quantum key distribution (QKD) with bidirectional 10 Gb/s classical data channels in a single fiber using dense wavelength division multiplexing. Record secure key rates of 2.38 Mbps and fiber distances up to 70km are achieved. Data channels are simultaneously monitored for error-free operation. The robustness of QKD is further demonstrated with a secure key rate of 445 kbps over 25km, obtained in the presence of data lasers launching conventional 0 dBm power. We discuss the fundamental limit for the QKD performance in the multiplexing environment. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows authenticated communicating entities to generate and distribute random keys with security guaranteed by the principles of quantum mechanics. Usually, the deployment of optical fibre-based QKD links requires a dark fibre for the quantum channel of the QKD link. However, the availability of dark fibre is scarce for field deployments and involves higher capital expenses. In this paper, we propose a QKD solution where the quantum channel and classical channel of the QKD link are multiplexed on the same fibre carrying a data traffic of 100 Gbps using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). The solution will facilitate rapid upgradation of existing communication networks with quantum security, especially in metropolitan networks.
We demonstrated ultra fast BB84 quantum key distribution (QKD) transmission at 625 MHz clock rate through a 97 km field-installed fiber using practical clock synchronization based on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). We succeeded in over-one-hour stable key generation at a high sifted key rate of 2.4 kbps and a low quantum bit error rate (QBER) of 2.9%. The asymptotic secure key rate was estimated to be 0.78- 0.82 kbps from the transmission data with the decoy method of average photon numbers 0, 0.15, and 0.4 photons/pulse.
Background: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD( is a promising technology for secure communication, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics to provide theoretically unbreakable encryption. With the exponential growth in data traffic and the increasing need for secure communication in backbone fiber networks, integrating high-bit-rate multiplexing techniques into QKD systems can enhance their efficiency and scalability. Problem: Traditional QKD systems face limitations in terms of data rate and network scalability, particularly in high-capacity optical communication networks. As data demands increase, there is a critical need for methods that can support high-bit-rate multiplexing while maintaining the security and performance of QKD. Method: This study proposes a novel QKD approach using high-bit-rate multiplexing in backbone fiber networks. The method involves encoding quantum keys using multiple optical channels simultaneously to increase the data throughput of the QKD system. We employ a combination of time-division multiplexing (TDM( and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM( to optimize the use of fiber resources and enhance key distribution rates. Results: Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a key distribution rate of 10 Mbps over a 200 km fiber link with a quantum bit error rate (QBER( of 1.5%. This represents a 50% improvement in key rate compared to conventional QKD systems without multiplexing. Additionally, the method shows enhanced scalability and network utilization, supporting up to 16 multiplexed channels with minimal impact on security.