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Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Multi-hop quantum key distribution with passive relays over underwater turbulence channels

Amir Hossein Fahim Raouf, Majid Safari, Murat Uysal

Published Oct 2, 2020• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Absorption, scattering, and turbulence experienced in underwater channels severely limit the range of quantum communication links. In this paper, as a potential solution to overcome range limitations, we investigate a multi-hop underwater quantum key distribution (QKD) where intermediate nodes between the source and destination nodes help the key distribution. We consider the deployment of passive relays that simply redirect the qubits to the next relay node or the receiver without any measurement. Based on the near-field analysis, we present the performance of a relay-assisted QKD scheme in terms of quantum bit error rate and secret key rate in different water types and turbulence conditions. We further investigate the effect of system parameters such as aperture size and detector field of view on the performance. Our results demonstrate under what conditions relay-assisted QKD can be beneficial and what end-to-end transmission distances can be supported with a multi-hop underwater QKD system.

DOI
10.1364/josab.404245

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Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Apr 14, 2022•13 citations
Absorption, scattering, and turbulence experienced in underwater channels severely limit the range of quantum communication links. In this paper, as a potential solution to overcome range limitations, we investigate a multi-hop underwater quantum key distribution (QKD) where intermediate nodes between the source and destination nodes help the key distribution. We consider the deployment of passive relays that simply redirect the qubits to the next relay node or the receiver without any measurement. Based on the near-field analysis, we present the performance of a relay-assisted QKD scheme in terms of quantum bit error rate and secret key rate in different water types and turbulence conditions. We further investigate the effect of system parameters such as aperture size and detector field of view on the performance. Our results demonstrate under what conditions relay-assisted QKD can be beneficial and what end-to-end transmission distances can be supported with a multi-hop underwater QKD system.
Absorption, scattering, and turbulence experienced in underwater channels severely limit the range of quantum communications. In this paper, to overcome range limitations, we investigate a multi-hop underwater quantum key distribution (QKD) where intermediate nodes help the key distribution between the source and destination nodes. We consider deployment of passive-relays which simply redirect the qubits to the next relay node or receiver without any measurement. Based on nearfield analysis, we present the performance of relay-assisted QKD scheme in clear ocean under different atmospheric conditions. We further investigate the effect of system parameters (aperture size and detector field-of-view) on the achievable distance.
The current literature on quantum key distribution (QKD) is mainly limited to the transmissions over fiber optic, atmospheric or satellite links and are not directly applicable to underwater environments with different channel characteristics. Absorption, scattering, and turbulence experienced in underwater channels severely limit the range of quantum communication links. In the first part of this thesis, we analyze the quantum bit error rate (QBER) and secret key rate (SKR) performance of the well-known BB84 protocol in underwater channels. As path loss model, we consider a modified version of Beer-Lambert formula which takes into account the effect of scattering. We derive a closed-form expression for the wave structure function to determine the average power transfer over turbulent underwater path and use this to obtain an upper bound on QBER as well as a lower bound on SKR. In the second part of this thesis, as a potential solution to overcome range limitations, we investigate a multi-hop underwater QKD where intermediate nodes between the source and destination nodes help the key distribution. We consider the deployment of passive relays which simply redirect the qubits to the next relay node or the receiver without any measurement. Based on the near-field analysis, we present the performance of relay-assisted QKD scheme in terms of QBER and SKR in different water types and turbulence conditions. In the last part of this thesis, we investigate the fundamental performance limits of decoy BB84 protocol over turbulent underwater channels and provide a comprehensive performance characterization. Based on near field analysis, we utilize the wave structure function to determine the average power transfer over turbulent underwater path and use this to obtain a lower bound on key generation rate. Based on this bound, we present the performance of decoy BB84 protocol in different water type.
In this paper, we investigate a terrestrial relay-assisted scheme for a free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on BB84 protocol. We consider the deployment of passive relays which simply redirect (i.e., collect and point) the qubits to the next relay node or to the receiver without performing any measurement or detection process. Based on a near-field analysis, we derive an upper bound on quantum bit error rate (QBER) of the relay-assisted QKD system. Our results demonstrate that the relay-assisted scheme is able to outperform point-to-point direct transmission for long link ranges in which turbulence effects are particularly degrading.
In this paper, we investigate a terrestrial relay-assisted scheme for a free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on BB84 protocol. We consider the deployment of passive relays which simply redirect the qubits to the next relay node or to the receiver without performing any measurement or detection process. Based on a near-field analysis, we derive an upper bound on quantum bit error rate (QBER) of the relay-assisted QKD system. Our results demonstrate that the relay-assisted scheme is able to outperform point-to-point direct transmission for long link ranges in which turbulence effects are particularly degrading.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) has been identified as a viable solution for secure underwater communication. This study aims to characterize the impact of natural turbulent waters on systems. The performance of QKD systems is analyzed in terms of the quantum bit error rate and the secret key rate. We expand upon previous studies which only considered large separations by including large and small separations by comparing the turbulence length scale with the distance between two observation points. To that end, we obtain the analytical expression of the wave structure function (WSF) for small separation for propagating Gaussian beams. Since the WSF describes how the amplitude and phase of an optical wave change as it travels through the varying refractive index of the turbulent medium over a given distance, the accurate characterization remains essential in terms of revealing the beam wavefront distortion. Leveraging the practical parameters of underwater environment and communication systems, we demonstrate that the average temperature, average salinity concentration, temperature-salinity gradient, temperature and energy dissipation rates of turbulent water impact the performance and security of the QKD systems to a nonnegligible extent. It is also observed that the waters having high chlorophyll concentrations, e.g., coastal waters, drastically decrease the performance of the QKD systems due to strong absorption and scattering effects. The findings and insights gained from this study may help advance secure underwater communication, which in turn will aid in establishing future QKD networks. Potential applications of this research include secure underwater communication for defense, data gathering for marine environmental monitoring, remote data transmission, and deep-sea exploration.
Decoy state quantum key distribution protocols have been studied for atmospheric, fiber, and satellite links; however, those results are not directly applicable to underwater environments with different channel characteristics. In this paper, we investigate the fundamental performance limits of decoy state BB84 protocol over turbulent underwater channels and provide a comprehensive performance characterization. We adopt a near field analysis to determine the average power transfer over a turbulent underwater path and use this to obtain a lower bound on the secret key rate. We quantify the performance of decoy BB84 protocol in different water types assuming various turbulence conditions. We further investigate the effect of system parameters such as transmit aperture size and detector field of view on the performance.