Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a rapidly advancing field, yet there is often a divide between theory, experiment, and practice. One difficulty in evaluating novel QKD protocols is in the post-processing needed. We are reporting here on the current development of a modular QKD software stack researchers can use to evaluate the performance of new QKD protocols, either using real hardware or simulated. We are designing our system to be modular and extendable allowing for rapid prototyping of new systems.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a rapidly advancing field, yet there is often a divide between theory, experiment, and practice. One difficulty in evaluating novel QKD protocols is in the post-processing needed. We are reporting here on the current development of a modular QKD software stack researchers can use to evaluate the performance of new QKD protocols, either using real hardware or simulated. We are designing our system to be modular and extendable allowing for rapid prototyping of new systems.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) exploits the laws of quantum physics to generate shared secret cryptographic keys and can detect eavesdroppers during the key generation process. However, previous QKD research has focused more on theory than practice. QKD is the most mature application of the quantum information field, offering the means for two parties to generate secure cryptographic keying material. Employing the laws of quantum physics, QKD can detect eavesdroppers during the key generation process, in which unauthorized observation of quantum communication induces discernible errors. However, QKD is a nascent technology where real-world systems are constructed from nonideal components and deployed in uncertain operational environments, which can adversely impact system security and performance. In this article, we study the performance impact of QKD implementation nonidealities and practical engineering limitations, evaluating three system examples using a modularized simulation framework. We also explore the QKD security–performance trade space to gain additional understanding of critical design tradeoffs associated with interactions between physical components and system-level considerations such as hardware, software, and protocols. Such evaluations provide insight and inform designers, researchers, and users when selecting among competing solutions; decision makers can also use them to guide future investments and developmental efforts. Our research team focuses on bridging the gap between QKD theory and practice. Theoretical and experimental physicists are working to advance QKD technology, but few are strongly focused on evaluating and improving the implementation of realized systems. For a general introduction to QKD, see Chip Elliot’s “Quantum Cryptography.”
Abstract An experimental Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) implementation requires advanced costly hardware, unavailable in most research environments, making protocol testing and performance evaluation complicated. This has been a major motivation for the development of QKD simulation frameworks, to allow researchers to obtain insight before proceeding into practical implementations. Several simulators have been introduced over the recent years. However, only four are publicly available, only one of which models equipment imperfections. Currently, no open‐source simulator includes all following capabilities: channel attenuation modelling, equipment imperfections and effects on key rates, estimation of elapsed time during classical and quantum‐ channel processes, use of truly random binary sequences for qubits and measurement bases, shared ‐bit fraction customization. In this paper, we present NuQKD, an open‐ source modular, intuitive simulator, featuring all the above capabilities. NuQKD establishes communication between two computer terminals, accepts custom user inputs (iterations, raw key size, attacker interception rate etc.) and evaluates the sifted key, Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER), elapsed communication time, and more. NuQKD capabilities include optical fiber and free ‐space simulation, modeling of equipment/channel imperfections, bitstrings from True Random Number Generators, decoy‐state protocol support, and automated evaluation of performance metrics. We expect NuQKD to enable convenient and accurate representation of actual experimental conditions.
The exponential development in Quantum Computing is becoming a threat to the existing asymmetric cryptographic algorithms like RSA (Rivest, Shamir, Adleman). A threat to these public key cryptographic algorithms is a threat to the entire Internet itself, as algorithms like RSA are the basic building blocks of existing secure Internet communication. Thus, a new area of quantum cryptography emerged, that lead to the development of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms and Quantum-safe Internet protocol Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). These systems, which are generally known as Quantum Cryptographic Systems, have many practical limitations that make them complex and expensive to be implemented or even experimented with, in a real-life scenario. Therefore, to develop new protocols and analyze the feasibility of the existing protocols in a cost-effective manner, we need efficient simulation frameworks. So, in this paper, we are profiling some of the recent Quantum Cryptographic based networks and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) simulation frameworks and conducting a systematic and thorough analysis of the implementation and functionalities of these experimental platforms, with an aim to build a universal quantum testbed in the future.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the most important aspects of quantum cryptography. Using laws of quantum mechanics as the basis for security, the key-distribution process makes information theoretically secure in QKD. With the advancement and commercialization of QKD, an end-to-end QKD simulation software is required that can include experimental imperfections. Software of this kind will ensure that resources are invested only after prior performance analysis, and is faithful to experimental capacities and limitations. In this work, we introduce our QKD simulation toolkit qkdSim, which is ultimately aimed at being developed into such a software package that can precisely model and analyze any generic QKD protocol. We present the design, implementation, and testing of a prototype of qkdSim that can accurately simulate our own experimental demonstration of the B92 protocol. The simulation results match well with experiment; a representative key rate and the quantum bit error rate from experiment is $51\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5$ kbit/sec and $4.79\mathrm{%}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01\mathrm{%}$ respectively, wherein the simulation yields $52.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.36$ kbit/sec and $4.79\mathrm{%}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01\mathrm{%}$, respectively.
Although the quantum technology introduces an unprecedented threat to the classical encryption field, the combination of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and one-time pad makes the absolutely secure encryption possible. However the key distribution rate of most QKD systems still cannot meet the requirements of practical applications. The complex QKD post-processing is one of the largest obstacles to improving the key distribution rate. In this paper, the design and implementation of a multi-thread QKD post-processing software is introduced, including the motivation, architecture and communication protocol. The QKD post processing software is flexible, efficient and easy to implement.
Quantum technology, and especially quantum computing, is advancing rapidly. Our every-day secure communication infrastructure relies heavily on public key cryptography; unfortunately, many public key schemes are in fact insecure against quantum algorithms. Furthermore, adversaries who, today, capture information encrypted using classical key distribution systems, can wait and, as soon as quantum computers of sufficient power become available, they may decipher all previously captured information. While some new “post-quantum” public key systems are assumed to be secure against quantum computers, this is only an assumption and, even if the assumption remains valid, still results in systems that are less efficient for end-users than the more commonly used public key systems employed today. While the advent of quantum technology may seem detrimental to security, in fact, one may harness the power of quantum through quantum key distribution (QKD) for stronger security guarantees. Such QKD protocols allow two (or more) parties to establish a shared secret key, secure against an all-powerful adversary. Perhaps surprising is that QKD technology is already here both experimentally and commercially. This tutorial serves as an introduction to basic QKD along with QKD technology from a practical perspective. Quantum communication is a highly interdisciplinary field of research and one of the goals of this article is to introduce a larger set of researchers and practitioners to its study in the hopes of furthering its progress and eventual wide-scale adoption.