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Acta Physica Sinica

Subcarrier multiplexing quantum key distribution based on polarization coding

Guhao Zhao, Zhao Shang-Hong, Zhoushi Yao, Meng Wen, Xiang Wang, Zhu Zhi-Hang, Feng Liu

Published Jan 1, 2012• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A subcarrier multiplexing quantum key distribution is based on phase modulation polarization coding scheme. The key could be shared by several parallel sideband channels, and each sideband has a random and independent polarization which is synthesized by controlling the phase difference of subcarriers in two electro-optical phase modulators. The key rate could be increased multiply. The simulation result shows that the scheme works well.

DOI
10.7498/aps.61.240306

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A subcarrier multiplexing quantum key distribution is based on phase modulation polarization coding scheme. The key could be shared by several parallel sideband channels, and each sideband has a random and independent polarization which is synthesized by controlling the phase difference of subcarriers in two electro-optical phase modulators. The key rate could be increased multiply. The simulation result shows that the scheme works well.
We present a parallel quantum key distribution scheme, where a Mach–Zehnder (M–Z) interferometer is applied to achieve a subcarrier multiplexing quantum key distribution. The polarization of each sideband of the composite signal and their controlling factors are analyzed. The factors, such as intermodulation interference and laser source phase noise, which might increase quantum bit error, are studied. The simulation of the quantum bit error rate of the four different sidebands shows that this type of modulation can meet the bit error rate requirement of quantum key distribution.
We present the physical principles of a quantum key distribution system that opens the possibility of parallel quantum key distribution and, therefore, of a substantial improvement in the bit rate of such systems. Quantum mechanics allows for multiple measurements at different frequencies and thus we exploit this concept by extending the concept of frequency coding to the case where more than one radio-frequency subcarrier is used for independently encoding the bits onto an optical carrier. Taking advantage of subcarrier multiplexing techniques we demonstrate that the bit rate can be greatly improved as parallel key distribution is enabled.
A quantum key distribution system based on the subcarrier wave modulation method has been demonstrated which employs the BB84 protocol with a strong reference to generate secure bits at a rate of 16.5 kbit/s with an error of 0.5% over an optical channel of 10 dB loss, and 18 bits/s with an error of 0.75% over 25 dB of channel loss. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the highest channel loss reported for secure quantum key distribution using the subcarrier wave approach. A passive unidirectional scheme has been used to compensate for the polarization dependence of the phase modulators in the receiver module, which resulted in a high visibility of 98.8%. The system is thus fully insensitive to polarization fluctuations and robust to environmental changes, making the approach promising for use in optical telecommunication networks. Further improvements in secure key rate and transmission distance can be achieved by implementing the decoy states protocol or by optimizing the mean photon number used in line with experimental parameters.
We provide, to our knowledge, the first experimental demonstration of the feasibility of sending several parallel keys by exploiting the technique of subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) widely employed in microwave photonics. This approach brings several advantages such as high spectral efficiency compatible with the actual secure key rates, the sharing of the optical fainted pulse by all the quantum multiplexed channels reducing the system complexity, and the possibility of upgrading with wavelength division multiplexing in a two-tier scheme, to increase the number of parallel keys. Two independent quantum SCM channels featuring a sifted key rate of 10 Kb/s/channel over a link with quantum bit error rate <2% is reported.
In this paper, we consider the influence of a divergence of polarization of a quantum signal transmitted through an optical fiber channel on the quantum bit error rate of the subcarrier wave quantum key distribution protocol. Firstly, we investigate the dependence of the optical power of the signal on the modulation indices' difference after the second phase modulation of the signal. Then we consider the Liouville equation with regard to relaxation in order to develop expressions of the dynamics of the Stokes parameters. As a result, we propose a model that describes quantum bit error rate for the subcarrier wave quantum key distribution depending on the characteristics of the optical fiber. Finally, we propose several methods for minimizing quantum bit error rate.
In this paper, we propose the option of constructing a multi-channel system of quantum key distribution with frequency coding based on the AMPM-PMAM electro-optical scheme, using a Comb generator, multiplexer and demultiplexer to form a set of parallel quantum subchannels. The AMPM-PMAM work of the QKD system is based on the modulation conversion of the photon carrier based on the Ilyin-Morozov method and its one- and two-modulator implementations. The application of this scheme will significantly increase the transmission speed of the quantum key, allow the use of several levels of cryptographic protection, reduce the likelihood of achieving a positive result in PNS attacks of Eve (illegal subscriber) by eliminating the carrier from the structure of the signal transmitted through the quantum key distribution channel, and splitting information about key to different independent quantum channels.