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Quantum Key Distribution over Combined Atmospheric Fading Channels

Nedasadat Hosseinidehaj, Robert Malaney

Published Aug 17, 2016• 9 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

In this work we analyze a quantum communication scheme for entanglement-based continuous variable quantum key distribution between two ground stations. Communication occurs via a satellite over two independent atmospheric fading channels dominated by turbulence-induced beam wander. In this scheme the engineering complexity remains largely on the ground transceivers, with the satellite acting simply as a reflector. We show how the use of a highly selective post-selection strategy may lead to a useful quantum key generation rate for this system. This work represents the first quantitative assessment of continuous variable quantum key rates in the pragmatic scenario of reflection off low-earth-orbit satellites.

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In this work we analyze a quantum communication scheme for entanglement-based continuous variable quantum key distribution between two ground stations. Communication occurs via a satellite over two independent atmospheric fading channels dominated by turbulence-induced beam wander. In this scheme the engineering complexity remains largely on the ground transceivers, with the satellite acting simply as a reflector. We show how the use of a highly selective post-selection strategy may lead to a useful quantum key generation rate for this system. This work represents the first quantitative assessment of continuous variable quantum key rates in the pragmatic scenario of reflection off low-earth-orbit satellites.
In this work we analyze a quantum communication scheme for entanglement-based continuous variable quantum key distribution between two ground stations. Communication occurs via a satellite over two independent atmospheric fading channels dominated by turbulence-induced beam wander. In this scheme the engineering complexity remains largely on the ground transceivers, with the satellite acting simply as a reflector. We show how the use of a highly selective post-selection strategy may lead to a useful quantum key generation rate for this system. This work represents the first quantitative assessment of continuous variable quantum key rates in the pragmatic scenario of reflection off low-earth-orbit satellites.
In this work we analyze three quantum communication schemes for the generation of Gaussian entanglement between two ground stations. Communication occurs via a satellite over two independent atmospheric fading channels dominated by turbulence-induced beam wander. In our first scheme, the engineering complexity remains largely on the ground transceivers, with the satellite acting simply as a reflector. Although the channel state information of the two atmospheric channels remains unknown in this scheme, the Gaussian entanglement generation between the ground stations can still be determined. On the ground, distillation and Gaussification procedures can be applied, leading to a refined Gaussian entanglement generation rate between the ground stations. We compare the rates produced by this first scheme with two competing schemes in which quantum complexity is added to the satellite, thereby illustrating the tradeoff between space-based engineering complexity and the rate of ground-station entanglement generation.
In this work we analyze a measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol to establish continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD) between two ground stations. We assume communication occurs between the ground stations via satellite over two independent atmospheric-fading channels influenced by turbulence-induced beam wandering. In this MDI protocol the measurement device is the satellite itself, and the security of the protocol is analyzed through an equivalent entanglement-based swapping scheme. We quantify the positive impact the fading channels can have on the final quantum key rates, demonstrating how the protocol is able to generate a positive key rate even over high-loss atmospheric channels provided that the maximum transmission coefficient of the channel is sufficiently large. This is somewhat counter-intuitive given that the same outcome is only possible in the low-loss regime for a measurement device centrally positioned in a fiber-optic channel. Our results show that useful space-based quantum key generation rates between two ground stations are possible even when the relay satellite is held by an adversary. The cost in key rate incurred by altering the status of the satellite from trustworthy to untrustworthy is presented.
In this work we investigate the effectiveness of continuous-variable (CV) entangled states, transferred through high-loss atmospheric channels, as a means of viable quantum key distribution (QKD) between terrestrial stations and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. In particular, we investigate the role played by the Gaussian CV states as compared to non-Gaussian states. We find that beam-wandering induced atmospheric losses results in QKD performance levels that are in general quite different from those found in fixed-attenuation channels. For example, circumstances can be found where no QKD is viable at some fixed loss in fiber but is viable at the same mean loss in fading channels. We also find that, in some circumstances, the QKD relative performance of Gaussian and non-Gaussian states can in atmospheric channels be the reverse of that found in fixed-attenuation channels. These findings show that the nature of the atmospheric channel can have a large impact on the QKD performance. Our results should prove useful for emerging global quantum communications that use LEO satellites as communication relays.
Satellite-based quantum cryptography has already been demonstrated using discrete variable technology. Nonetheless, there is great interest in using weak coherent pulses to perform quantum key distribution (QKD) in the continuous variable (CV) paradigm. In this work, we study the feasibility of performing coherent-state CV-QKD via the satellite-to-ground channel. We use numerical methods to simulate atmospheric turbulence and compare the results with ground-based experimental data so as to confirm the validity of our approach. We find the results obtained from the numerical simulations agree well with the experimental data and represent an improvement over the state-of-the-art analytical models. Using the simulation results we then derive QKD key rates and find that useful non-zero key rates can be found over a limited range of zenith angles. Determination of QKD key rates using experimentally validated simulations of low-zenith-angle atmospheric channels represents an important step towards proving the feasibility of real-world satellite-to-Earth CV-QKD.
In this paper, we present a novel analysis of the feasibility of quantum key distribution between a LEO satellite and a ground station. First of all, we study signal propagation through a turbulent atmosphere for uplinks and downlinks, discussing the contribution of beam spreading and beam wandering. Then we introduce a model for the background noise of the channel during night-time and day-time, calculating the signal-to-noise ratio for different configurations. We also discuss the expected error-rate due to imperfect polarization compensation in the channel. Finally, we calculate the expected key generation rate of a secure key for different configurations (uplink, downlink) and for different protocols (BB84 with and without decoy states, entanglement-based Ekert91 protocol).