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Optical Fiber Communication Conference

Self-tuning quantum key distribution transmitter based on a genetic algorithm

Yuen San Lo, Robert I. Woodward, Thomas Roger, V. Lovic, Zhiliang L. Yuan, Andrew J. Shields

Published Jan 1, 2022• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We demonstrate a self-tuning QKD transmitter by employing a genetic algorithm for automated optimisation. Without user intervention, laser parameters are determined automatically to minimise quantum bit error rates to similar levels achieved by QKD specialists.
DOI
10.1364/ofc.2022.m3i.2

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For the adoption of QKD to grow, much effort has been devoted to making QKD systems more robust and efficient. Much of the complexity of a QKD system stems from its transmitter where quantum states encoded with bit values are prepared. Recently, optical injection locking (OIL) has emerged as a promising method to realize high-speed QKD transmitters with a compact design. This approach enables direct phase encoding without the need for external modulators, while simultaneously improving the laser characteristics. Due to these remarkable advantages, OIL has been widely applied to many QKD protocols, including BB84, MDI-QKD and TF-QKD. However, in practice, tuning the laser system to find optimal operating parameters is a very challenging task. This is because the underlying laser dynamics are rich and involve a complex interplay between multiple control parameters. It is therefore highly desirable to develop an efficient method to optimize the systems. Here, for the first time, we address this issue by demonstrating a self-tuning QKD transmitter by implementing a genetic algorithm to autonomously locate the optimum system parameters. Without any user intervention, our approach manages to optimize the quantum bit error rate down to ~2.5%, matching the state-of-the-art performance.
The development and performance of quantum technologies heavily relies on the properties of the quantum states, which often require careful optimization of the driving conditions of all underlying components. In quantum key distribution (QKD), optical injection locking (OIL) of pulsed lasers has recently been shown as a promising technique to realize high-speed quantum transmitters with efficient system design. However, due to the complex underlying laser dynamics, tuning such laser system is both a challenging and time-consuming task. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an OIL-based QKD transmitter that can be automatically tuned to its optimum operating state by employing a genetic algorithm. Starting with minimal knowledge of the laser operating parameters, the phase coherence and the quantum bit error rate of the system are optimized autonomously to a level matching the state of the art.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables two remote users to share a string of key bits with information-theoretical security. Parameter optimization is a crucial step in achieving optimal performance in practical QKD systems. In general, such optimization is implemented using a local search algorithm (LSA). However, LSAs inevitably fail to find out the optimal values when the searched key rate function is nonconvex or has a discontinuity of first-order derivatives and a narrow parameter search space. This paper proposes a genetic algorithm-based method to overcome the limitations of LSAs for QKD parameter optimization. We tested the proposed method with various types of common QKD protocols and found that it has very high parameter optimization performance for QKD with a time consumption comparable to that using a standard LSA. We expect our method to be a valuable optimization tool for quantum information processing tasks.
This paper presents a new adaptive QKD system with a Genetic Algorithm optimizer. The issue of security in modern wireless network is of alarming significance, especially to freespace optical connections in which the dynamics in the environment are hazardous with regard to confidentiality. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is now available over air channels and can be used to secure a key exchange but it is highly impaired by atmospheric turbulence, beam misalignment, background radiation, path loss, and scintillation and pointing errors. These weaknesses elevate Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) and slow down secret key rate, making it impractical to deploy. In this paper, we present a new adaptive QKD system with a Genetic Algorithm (GAD) optimizer adjusting decoy intensities, the probability of choice of a basis in selecting a detector, detector threshold, and privacy amplification rates dynamically. The active control of channels under different atmospheric conditions by continuous monitoring of channels with pilot frames and the QBER feedback allows intelligent parameter reconfiguration. The performance of the simulation using various turbulence regimes shows that the proposed adaptive one boosts the average secret key rate by The simulation results show a 25-40% improvement in secret key rate, reduced QBER, and increased secure transmission range as well as the range and the resilience of transmission, which confirm the efficiency and practical importance of the proposed adaptation technique.
In this paper we show how a genetic algorithm may be used to analyze the security of quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols. In particular, we construct an algorithm to find the maximally tolerated noise level of a QKD protocol (the threshold after which users must abort). Extending on our previous work in this area, we describe in detail the algorithm and how it is constructed. We show how preprocessing may be considered by the algorithm to improve this tolerated bound. Finally, we evaluate it on multiple QKD protocols, comparing it to known bounds and also discovering new results. We also show how it can be used to analyze the security of complicated QKD protocols requiring the adversary to interact with the users. It may also be used to detect security flaws in protocols. Our algorithm can be a useful tool in QKD research and design.
In this paper we show how genetic algorithms can be effectively applied to study the security of arbitrary quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols when faced with adversaries limited to current-day technology. We compare two approaches, both of which take into account practical limitations on the quantum power of an adversary (which can be specified by the user). Our system can be used to determine upper-bounds on noise tolerances of novel QKD protocols in this scenario, thus making it a useful tool for researchers. We compare our algorithm's results with current known numerical results, and also evaluate it on newer, more complex, protocols where no results are currently known.