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Journal of Optical Technology

Theoretical analysis of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems integrated into fiber-optic communication lines using dense wavelength division multiplexing

Irina O. Vorontsova, R. Goncharov, Angelina Tarabrina, D. V. Tupyakov, E. A. Bolychev, Semyon V. Smirnov, Fedor Dmitrievich Kiselev, V. I. Egorov

Published Jul 1, 2022• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Subject of study. The effect of noise resulting from spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel crosstalk on the performance of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems with symmetric and asymmetric realizations is studied. Mathematical models of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution system and considered channel noise sources are presented. The secure key generation rate was calculated in all cases for assessment and subsequent analysis of the system performance. These results enabled the identification and presentation of the operation features of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution system upon its integration into existing fiber-optic communication networks using dense wavelength division multiplexing. Aim of the work. The performance of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems integrated into fiber-optic communication lines using dense wavelength division multiplexing by means of numerical simulation is investigated. Method. An approach based on analysis of the Raman scattering cross section plot and allocation of the information channels of frequencies corresponding to areas located sideways to the pump wavelength was used to determine the optimal configurations of the allocation of quantum and information channels. A single-photon scheme in one symmetric and two asymmetric system realizations was considered for numerical simulations of the quantum key distribution system with an untrusted node. A security analysis was performed according to the Devetak–Winter bound that enables estimating the secure key generation rate in an asymptotic mode (for symmetric infinite sequences) in the presence of collective attacks in the quantum channel. Main results. It was confirmed that the implementation of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems with equal paths of the sender and the receiver (i.e., symmetric) is optimal. The result deteriorated with an increase in the asymmetry parameter. If the quantum channel is within the C-band, the advantage of the symmetric realization was minimal, and it was almost indiscernible when the number of information channels was increased to 40. However, if the quantum channel was at the wavelength of 1310 nm (O band), the difference was significant. Moreover, allocation of the wavelength of 1310 nm to the quantum channel enables the longest distance of operation, and it weakly depends on the number of channels. Practical significance. For practical implementation of quantum key distribution systems, their integration into existing telecommunication infrastructure is of particular interest. This can be achieved through the simultaneous propagation of quantum and information channels in the fiber-optic communication lines by means of multiplexing, and in particular, dense wavelength division multiplexing. However, the power levels characteristic for quantum signals are significantly lower than those for information signals. Therefore, if the information and quantum channels propagate in the same fiber, the noise from the information channels significantly reduces the performance of the quantum key distribution systems. For this reason, the physical and mathematical description, analysis, and numerical simulation of the noise and its interaction with different quantum key distribution systems aimed at identifying the most effective integration method are crucial for the integration of quantum key distribution systems into existing telecommunication networks.

DOI
10.1364/jot.89.000424

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Subject of study. The effect of noise resulting from spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel crosstalk on the performance of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems with symmetric and asymmetric realizations is studied. Mathematical models of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution system and considered channel noise sources are presented. The secure key generation rate was calculated in all cases for assessment and subsequent analysis of the system performance. These results enabled the identification and presentation of the operation features of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution system upon its integration into existing fiber-optic communication networks using dense wavelength division multiplexing. Aim of the work. The performance of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems integrated into fiber-optic communication lines using dense wavelength division multiplexing by means of numerical simulation is investigated. Method. An approach based on analysis of the Raman scattering cross section plot and allocation of the information channels of frequencies corresponding to areas located sideways to the pump wavelength was used to determine the optimal configurations of the allocation of quantum and information channels. A single-photon scheme in one symmetric and two asymmetric system realizations was considered for numerical simulations of the quantum key distribution system with an untrusted node. A security analysis was performed according to the Devetak–Winter bound that enables estimating the secure key generation rate in an asymptotic mode (for symmetric infinite sequences) in the presence of collective attacks in the quantum channel. Main results. It was confirmed that the implementation of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution systems with equal paths of the sender and the receiver (i.e., symmetric) is optimal. The result deteriorated with an increase in the asymmetry parameter. If the quantum channel is within the C-band, the advantage of the symmetric realization was minimal, and it was almost indiscernible when the number of information channels was increased to 40. However, if the quantum channel was at the wavelength of 1310 nm (O band), the difference was significant. Moreover, allocation of the wavelength of 1310 nm to the quantum channel enables the longest distance of operation, and it weakly depends on the number of channels. Practical significance. For practical implementation of quantum key distribution systems, their integration into existing telecommunication infrastructure is of particular interest. This can be achieved through the simultaneous propagation of quantum and information channels in the fiber-optic communication lines by means of multiplexing, and in particular, dense wavelength division multiplexing. However, the power levels characteristic for quantum signals are significantly lower than those for information signals. Therefore, if the information and quantum channels propagate in the same fiber, the noise from the information channels significantly reduces the performance of the quantum key distribution systems. For this reason, the physical and mathematical description, analysis, and numerical simulation of the noise and its interaction with different quantum key distribution systems aimed at identifying the most effective integration method are crucial for the integration of quantum key distribution systems into existing telecommunication networks.
Theoretical research and numerical simulation of the noise influence caused by spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel cross talk on the performances of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems were conducted. Three types of QKD systems were considered: a coherent one-way QKD protocol, subcarrier-wave QKD system, and continuous-variable QKD integrated with classical dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) channels. We calculate the secure key generation rate for the systems mentioned addressing different channel allocation schemes (i.e., configurations). A uniform DWDM grid is considered with a quantum channel located in the C-band and O-band (at 1310 nm) of a telecommunication window. The systems’ performances are analyzed in terms of the maximal achievable distance values. Configurations for further analysis and investigation are chosen optimally, i.e., their maximal achievable distances are the best.
Numerically, a theoretical analysis of the noise impact caused by spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel crosstalk on the measurement-device-independent continuous variable quantum key distribution systems is conducted.The analysis considers symmetry and asymmetry of system paths, as well as possible channel allocation schemes, for a quantum channel located in C-and O-bans.Mathematical models for MDI CV-QKD system and the contributing noises' description are provided.The secure key generation rate is estimated to state features of protocol operation when integrated with existing DWDM systems in the context of its implementation into telecommunication networks.
In this paper we study the performance of subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution (SCW QKD) in the presence of classical channels of optical transport network utilizing dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). We consider the impact of spontaneous Raman scattering noise as well as the four-wave mixing and channel isolation efficiency. We calculate quantum bit error rate as well as the secure key generation rate of SCW-QKD protocol for different parameters of DWDM system and quantum channel allocations. Our calculations show, that quantum channel allocation at the wavelength of 1310 nm is preferable to allocation at C-band due to lower nonlinear noise, despite fiber's larger attenuation at this wavelength.
Subject of study. This study examined the applicability of the simulated annealing optimization algorithm to the search for optimal configurations of quantum and information channels required for a successful quantum key distribution session considering grids with different frequency spacings between channels, such as 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 GHz. Aim of study. This study was aimed at optimization of a search for configurations of quantum and information channels for a grid corresponding to dense wavelength division multiplexing standards using optimization methods based on analysis of the channel noise effect on quantum key distribution sessions and investigation of these methods. Method. Naturally, quantum signal powers are significantly lower than those of classic signals. Therefore, noise from information channels for a configuration where they propagate in the same fiber with quantum channels results in considerable reduction of quantum key distribution system performance. This problem can be mitigated by reducing the noise level in the channel via the selection and use of an optimal spectral channel allocation. The search for such channel allocation schemes, which are further referred to as configurations, can be implemented via several methods, such as the educated guess method and the approach entailing optimization using the simulated annealing optimization algorithm, which are the subjects of this study. The results obtained using this method were compared with similar results obtained using the educated guess method. Descriptions of the methods and their interpretation for the context of the objectives of the study are presented together with mathematical models for calculation of noise resulting from spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel crosstalk. Optimal allocation schemes of quantum and information channels in the grid with dense wavelength division multiplexing (configurations) obtained using the two methods are described. The configurations were considered optimal when the total value of all channel noise types considered in the mathematical model was minimal. Main results. Optimal configurations obtained using methods of simulated annealing and educated guess are described in this study. We demonstrated that the educated guess method is applicable when the spontaneous Raman scattering is the primary contributor to the total losses. In this case, the information channels should be arranged according to the Raman scattering cross-section graph. However, when the contribution of four-wave mixing is comparable with or exceeds that of spontaneous Raman scattering, the simulated annealing algorithm is preferrable to search for the optimal configurations. In this case, information channels should be located at a distance from the quantum channel: the smaller the grid spacing, the further the information channels are positioned from the quantum channel to obtain optimal configurations. Increase in the number of channels results in reduction in this separation distance inside the grid with fixed channel spacing. Practical significance. Currently, practical implementations of fiber-optic communication lines are inextricably connected with multiplexing technologies, particularly, dense wavelength division multiplexing, to satisfy the constantly growing demand in increasing information capacity of communication channels and constructing quantum networks. Assignment of separate fibers for quantum key distribution systems is not optimal; thus, existing technologies of channel multiplexing must be integrated into the quantum key distribution systems. However, a rapid increase in the quantum bit error rate occurs owing to the presence of undesirable channel noise in fiber-optic communication lines, which eventually results in the impossibility of performing a successful quantum key distribution session. Therefore, accurate and profound analysis of the contributions of channel noise types is required to minimize this noise via the selection of an optimal configuration of classical and quantum channels on the frequency grid.
In this paper we study performance of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution system (SCW QKD) in the presence of spontaneous Raman scattering (SpRS) noise generated by classical channels of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) network within a single-mode optical fiber. We present the mathematical model for evaluation of the quantum bit error rate (QBER) and the secure key generation rate with the SpRS noise taken into account. We consider two regimes of the SCW QKD system: the continuous wave regime that uses continuous wave laser and the pulsed regime. For these regimes, performance of the system is analyzed depending on receiver sensitivity of classical DWDM. It is found that the pulsed regime outperforms the continuous wave regime in both the secure key generation rate and the maximum achievable distance.
In this paper, we analyze the impact of the spontaneous Raman scattered noise generated from multiple optical classical channels on a single quantum key distribution channel, all within the telecom C-band. We experimentally measure the noise generated from up to 14 continuous-wave laser sources with different wavelengths using the dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) standard, in both propagation directions in respect to the QKD channel, over different standard SMF-28 fiber lengths. We then simulate the expected secure key generation rate for a decoy-states-based system as a function of distance under the presence of simultaneous telecom traffic with different modulation techniques, and show a severe penalty growing with the number of classical channels present. Our results show that, for in-band coexistence, the telecom channels should be distributed as close as possible from the quantum channel to avoid the Raman noise peaks. Operation far from the zero dispersion wavelength of the fiber is also beneficial as it greatly reduces the generation of four-wave mixing inside the quantum channel. Furthermore, narrow spectral filtering on the quantum channels is required due to the harsh limitations of performing QKD under real telecom environments, with the quantum and several classical channels coexisting in the same ITU-T C-band.