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A scalable network for simultaneous pairwise quantum key distribution via entanglement-based time-bin coding

Lucas Bialowons, Erik Fitzke, Maximilian Tippmann, Oleg Nikiforov, Felix Wissel, Matthias Gunkel, Thomas Walther

Published Oct 26, 2021• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We present simultaneous quantum key distribution (QKD) between any two pairs of participants in a 4-party star-shaped optical fiber network without a trusted node. Our QKD system is the first to extend an entanglement-based time-bin coding protocol to multiple pairs of participants. We demonstrate key exchange over distances of more than 75 km and show that our network can be readily extended to at least 34 participants by using wavelength-division multiplexing in the optical C-band and with small modifications up to 102 participants. Our scheme is compatible to multiplexing approaches that were implemented earlier with polarization-based QKD and can thereby be extended to a fully connected network. In contrast to polarization-based QKD, the all-fiber system we present is insensitive to polarization instabilities in the fiber link. This enables key distribution networks with low quantum bit error rates and stable secure key rates using deployed fibers even under challenging environmental conditions.

Related papers

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Free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) represents a groundbreaking advancement in secure communication, enabling secure key exchange over vast distances and offering robust encryption for the future quantum internet. However, the compatibility between fiber and free-space infrastructures continues to pose challenges for QKD protocols. Indeed, free-space and fiber-based networks commonly use different wavelengths and qubits encoding schemes. On the one hand, free-space QKD typically exploits visible light for its beneficial beam divergence compared with longer wavelengths, and polarization encoding for its robustness against turbulence. On the other hand, fiber-based QKD employs infrared light, particularly the C-band, because it shows the minimum losses with silica fibers, and time-bin encoding, due to polarization instability in optical fibers. In our study, we demonstrate the viability of a time-bin encoded QKD protocol operating in the C-band through horizontal turbulent free-space channels. We test the setup into a 50-m- and a 500-m-long link, respectively achieving an average secure key rate of 793 kbps and 40 kbps over several hours of measurements. The results encourage further exploration of the interoperability between free-space and fiber-based infrastructures, opening new possibilities for connecting terminal users with satellites in hybrid infrastructures.

Optica Quantum•May 23, 2025•10 citations
We present simultaneous quantum key distribution (QKD) between any two pairs of participants in a 4-party star-shaped optical fiber network without a trusted node. Our QKD system is the first to extend an entanglement-based time-bin coding protocol to multiple pairs of participants. We demonstrate key exchange over distances of more than 75 km and show that our network can be readily extended to at least 34 participants by using wavelength-division multiplexing in the optical C-band and with small modifications up to 102 participants. Our scheme is compatible to multiplexing approaches that were implemented earlier with polarization-based QKD and can thereby be extended to a fully connected network. In contrast to polarization-based QKD, the all-fiber system we present is insensitive to polarization instabilities in the fiber link. This enables key distribution networks with low quantum bit error rates and stable secure key rates using deployed fibers even under challenging environmental conditions.
In a quantum network involving multiple communicating parties, an important goal is to establish high-quality pairwise entanglement among the users without introducing multiple entangled-photon sources which would necessarily complicate the overall network setup. Moreover, it is preferable that the pairwise entanglement of photons is in the time-bin degree of freedom as the photonic time-bin qubit is ideally suited for fiber-optic distribution. Here, we report an experimental demonstration of a field-deployable quantum communication network involving multiple users, all of whom share pairwise entanglement in the time-bin degree of freedom of photons. In particular, by utilizing a single spontaneous-parametric down-conversion source which produces a broadband pair of photons and the wavelength-division demultiplexing/multiplexing technology, all the communicating parties within the network are always simultaneously ready for quantum communication. To further demonstrate the practical feasibility of a quantum network with time-bin entanglement over a wavelength-multiplexed fiber network, we demonstrate entangled-photon quantum key distribution with three users, each separated by 60 km of optical fibers.
Quantum key distribution (QKD), which promises secure key exchange between two remote parties, is now moving toward the realization of scalable and secure QKD networks (QNs). Fully connected, trusted node-free QNs have been realized based on entanglement distribution, in which the low key rate and the large overhead make their practical application challenging. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a fully connected multi-user QKD network based on a wavelength-multiplexed measurement-device-independent (MDI) QKD protocol. By combining the MDI-QKD protocol with integrated optical frequency combs, we achieve an average secure key rate of 267 bits per second for about 30 dB of link attenuation per user pair—more than three orders of magnitude higher than previous entanglement-based works. More importantly, we realize communication between two different pairs of users simultaneously. Our work paves the way for the realization of large-scale QKD networks with full connectivity and simultaneous communication capability among multiple users.
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.
Abstract Recently, we implemented a basic star-shaped entanglement-based quantum key distribution network without trusted nodes. It enables simultaneous pairwise exchange of quantum keys between multiple users. In this paper, we demonstrate its flexibility by focusing on several aspects. We show continuous system operation over a partially deployed 100 km fiber link for multiple days as well as dynamic reconfiguration of the communication partners. The photon pair source enables type-II or type-0 photon pair generation by SPDC as well as various demultiplexing strategies and repetition rates.
Free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) represents a groundbreaking advancement in secure communication, enabling secure key exchange over vast distances and offering robust encryption for the future quantum internet. However, the compatibility between fiber and free-space infrastructures continues to pose challenges for QKD protocols. Indeed, free-space and fiber-based networks commonly use different wavelengths and qubits encoding schemes. On the one hand, free-space QKD typically exploits visible light for its beneficial beam divergence compared with longer wavelengths, and polarization encoding for its robustness against turbulence. On the other hand, fiber-based QKD employs infrared light, particularly the C-band, because it shows the minimum losses with silica fibers, and time-bin encoding, due to polarization instability in optical fibers. In our study, we demonstrate the viability of a time-bin encoded QKD protocol operating in the C-band through horizontal turbulent free-space channels. We test the setup into a 50-m- and a 500-m-long link, respectively achieving an average secure key rate of 793 kbps and 40 kbps over several hours of measurements. The results encourage further exploration of the interoperability between free-space and fiber-based infrastructures, opening new possibilities for connecting terminal users with satellites in hybrid infrastructures.