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Journal of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

A simulation platform for satellite-to-ground quantum key communication

Ming Cui

Published Jan 1, 2011• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

A satellite-to-ground quantum key communication simulation platform is designed considering the present situation of complex space environment and temporarily unavailable experiment condition domestically.The system is capable of simulating APT and single-photon transmission and capture processes and of correcting wavefront distortion by adaptive-optic.Rational simulation results of tracking and pointing accuracy,AO correction,single-photon acquisition probability,and error rate are obtained by using the system and will be useful in designing actual systems.

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A satellite-to-ground quantum key communication simulation platform is designed considering the present situation of complex space environment and temporarily unavailable experiment condition domestically.The system is capable of simulating APT and single-photon transmission and capture processes and of correcting wavefront distortion by adaptive-optic.Rational simulation results of tracking and pointing accuracy,AO correction,single-photon acquisition probability,and error rate are obtained by using the system and will be useful in designing actual systems.
We propose a simulation and test platform for free-space quantum communication. The platform is used to simulate the working condition of the satellite-to-ground quantum communication, test the technical parameters and performance of the quantum communication terminal. A collimator is used to simulate the far-field optical transmission between the satellite and the ground; A turntable is used to simulate the motion between the satellite and the ground; A voice coil motor fast steering mirror is used to simulate the vibration of the satellite. With this platform, we design experiments to test the quantum communication terminal we developed. Its acquisition, tracking and pointing (ATP) performance and the far-field distribution of the communication photons are tested, the test results are provided and analyzed.
Feature Issue on Optical Wireless Communications (OWC) We investigate the design and the accommodation of a quantum communication transceiver in an existing classical optical communication terminal on board a satellite. Operation from a low earth orbit (LEO) platform (e.g., the International Space Station) would allow transmission of single photons and pairs of entangled photons to ground stations and hence permit quantum communication applications such as quantum cryptography on a global scale. Integration of a source generating entangled photon pairs and single-photon detection into existing optical terminal designs is feasible. Even more, major subunits of the classical terminals such as those for pointing, acquisition, and tracking as well as those providing the required electronic, thermal, and structural backbone can be adapted so as to meet the quantum communication terminal needs.
Abstract Future quantum communication infrastructures will rely on both terrestrial and space-based links integrating high-performance optical systems engineered for this purpose. In space-based downlinks in particular, the loss budget and the variations in the signal propagation due to atmospheric turbulence effects impose a careful optimization of the coupling of light in single-mode fibers required for interfacing with the receiving stations and the ground networks. In this work, we perform a comprehensive study of the role of adaptive optics (AO) in this optimization, focusing on realistic baseline configurations of prepare-and-measure quantum key distribution, with both discrete and continuous-variable encoding, and including finite-size effects. Our analysis uses existing experimental turbulence datasets at both day and night time to model the coupled signal statistics following a wavefront distortion correction with AO, and allows us to estimate the secret key rate for a range of critical parameters, such as turbulence strength, satellite altitude and ground telescope diameter. The results we derive illustrate the interest of adopting advanced AO techniques in several practical configurations.
Satellite based quantum key distribution (QKD) enables the delivery of keys for quantum secure communications over long distances. Maturity of the technology as well as industrial interest keep increasing. So does the technology readiness of satellite free-space optical communications. A satellite QKD system comprises a quantum communication subsystem and a classical communication subsystem (public channel). Both are implemented with free-space optics. Thus, in satellite QKD system design, there are strong synergies that should be exploited as much as possible and lead to an all-optical satellite QKD system. In this paper, we present a system like this locating all optical channels in ITU DWDM C-band. We focus on the overall conceptual design and the setup of the optical channels for quantum and classical signal transmission. The system description addresses the breadboards of a transmitter laser terminal (Alice terminal), a receiver laser terminal, (Bob terminal), the public channel implementation, the interfaced QKD system and the deployed encryption system. The design basis for the Alice terminal is the laser terminal development OSIRISv3. The design basis for the Bob terminal is the ground station development THRUST. The later contains an adaptive optics correction to enable single mode fiber coupling. This enables the interfacing to almost arbitrary quantum receivers such as the Bob modules used in the described experiment. The public channel is composed of a bi-directional 1 Gbps IM/DD system and a MODEM that implements a proprietary waveform optimized for free-space channels. The system was experimentally analyzed in a field test in the framework of the German initiative QuNET which addresses the use case of quantum secure communication for authorities. The results of the experiment are used to model a feasible LEO satellite-ground link. Performance indicators such as quantum bit error rate and secure key rate of a potential mission are estimated analytically.
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.
A general model in satellite-to-ground quantum communication is proposed by investigating the effect of a laser acquisition, pointing, and tracking (APT) system on the polarization state of single photons. The eccentricity of the general model ranges from 0 to 1, which means that a circular orbit can be introduced reasonably. Moreover, the geocentric-equatorial coordinate system, which can utilize the two-line elements, is used in the general model. Two kinds of simulations are performed, and we found that the rotations of polarization state are obviously influenced by the APT system. Our model could be applied in a realistic satellite-to-ground quantum communication system.