We consider the properties of a quantum communication channel in open space using the superdense coding algorithm as an example. We studied the theoretical model of the installation that implements this algorithm, and identified the main factors affecting the quality of the model. Among them is the atmospheric transmittance, the efficiency of detectors, and the average value of the number of noise counts caused by background radiation and dark counts. We made a complete calculation of the installation model and obtained explicit results. These results were analyzed using realistic parameters of detectors and the atmosphere. It was found that the atmospheric turbulence instability, detectors efficiency and the average value of noise counts have the greatest influence on the results.
We consider the properties of a quantum communication channel in open space using the superdense coding algorithm as an example. We studied the theoretical model of the installation that implements this algorithm, and identified the main factors affecting the quality of the model. Among them is the atmospheric transmittance, the efficiency of detectors, and the average value of the number of noise counts caused by background radiation and dark counts. We made a complete calculation of the installation model and obtained explicit results. These results were analyzed using realistic parameters of detectors and the atmosphere. It was found that the atmospheric turbulence instability, detectors efficiency and the average value of noise counts have the greatest influence on the results.
Atmospheric conditions play a pivotal role in determining the performance of satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution (QKD). In this research, we meticulously investigate the influence of various factors, including background light, dark counts, and aperture coupling efficiency, on the performance of satellite-to-ground QKD under different levels of turbulence intensity associated with diverse atmospheric stratifications. Based on the decoy state BB84 protocol, we refine the calculation formula for the quantum bit error rate (QBER) of the satellite-to-ground QKD system. Subsequently, we conduct simulations to analyze how the quantum BER varies under different conditions, such as varying intensities of background light, different wavelengths, and different zenith angles. The simulation results reveal that, when taking all the above-mentioned factors into comprehensive consideration, employing signals with shorter wavelengths can lead to a more favorable QBER. The findings of this study offer valuable insights and a solid reference for the construction of a satellite-to-ground QKD system, facilitating the development of more reliable and efficient quantum communication links between space and the ground.
The aim of the research is the mathematical analysis of quantum superdense coding based on quantum entanglement to increase the efficiency and reliability of information transmission in quantum communication systems. The essence of quantum superdense coding is the ability to transmit two classical bits of information using one qubit, which is part of an entangled pair. The fundamental principles of the superdense quantum coding method are considered. The relevance of the research in the context of the development of secure quantum communications and optimization of information transmission in quantum networks is substantiated. A review of modern scientific publications devoted to the theoretical principles of superdense coding is conducted, which indicate the development potential and practical prospects of this direction of quantum informatics. The analysis of mathematical modeling of quantum superdense encoding and decoding is performed using two alternative approaches – projective measurement in the Bell basis and the inverse Bell transform. It is shown that both approaches allow for the complete recovery of classical information transmitted using entangled quantum states. The advantage of the inverse Bell transform is the simplicity of implementation on quantum devices, the flexibility and accuracy of information processing, and the possibility of scaling, which makes it a reasonable choice in many practical applications. The influence of noise and decoherence on the efficiency of superdense coding has been studied, which is a critical factor in the practical implementation of this method in real quantum systems. A mathematical model of data transmission through a quantum channel under the action of additive white noise has been constructed. An analytical dependence of the probability of correct information recovery on the noise level has been established, which allows us to estimate the limits of reliability of superdense coding in noisy environments. Based on the research, the prospects for the practical application of superdense coding in quantum communication networks, in particular the quantum Internet, as well as in quantum computing and information security systems, have been outlined. The results obtained contribute to the further development of quantum technologies and can be used to create new protocols for highly efficient quantum data transmission.
The atmospheric turbulence is the main factor that influences quantum properties of propagating optical signals and may sufficiently degrade the performance of quantum communication protocols. The probability distribution of transmittance (PDT) for free-space channels is the main characteristic of the atmospheric links. Applying the law of total probability, we derive the PDT by separating the contributions from turbulence-induced beam wandering and beam-spot distortions. As a result, the obtained PDT varies from log-negative Weibull to truncated log-normal distributions depending on the channel characteristics. Moreover, we show that the method allows one to consistently describe beam tracking, a procedure which is typically used in practical long-distance free-space quantum communication. We analyze the security of decoy-state quantum key exchange through the turbulent atmosphere and show that beam tracking does not always improve quantum communication.
Quantum light propagation through turbulent atmosphere has become a subject of intensive research, spanning both theoretical and experimental studies. This interest is driven by its important applications in free-space quantum communication, remote quantum sensing, and environmental monitoring. At the same time, this phenomenon itself poses an intriguing fundamental problem. A consistent theoretical description typically makes explicit assumptions about the measurement scheme at the receiver station and/or the method of quantum-information encoding. A common and straightforward approach encodes the information in quantum states of a quasi-monochromatic mode, representing a pulsed Gaussian beam. Atmospheric turbulence induces random distortions of the pulse shape and, consequently, random fluctuations of the transmittance through the receiver aperture. These fluctuations, characterized by the probability distribution of transmittance (PDT), directly affect the quantum state of the received light. In this paper we examine various analytical models of the PDT, validate them through numerical simulations, and assess their range of applicability. Furthermore, we extend the analysis beyond the standard ensemble-averaging approach, recognizing that realistic experiments typically involve time averaging. This requires a detailed examination of the underlying random process, including the study of temporal correlations and their impact on nonclassical properties of electromagnetic radiation.
Atmospheric turbulence is one of the lead disturbance factors for free-space quantum communication. The quantum states of light in such channels are affected by fluctuating losses characterized by the probability distribution of transmittance (PDT). We obtain the PDT for different horizontal links via numerical simulations of light transmission through the atmosphere. The results are compared with analytical models: the truncated log-normal distribution, the beam-wandering model, the elliptic-beam approximation, and the model based on the law of total probability. Their applicability is shown to be strongly dependent on the receiver aperture radius. We introduce an empirical model based on the Beta distribution, which is in good agreement with numerical simulations for a wide range of channel parameters. However, there are still scenarios where none of the above analytical models fits the numerically simulated data. The numerical simulation is then used to analyze the transmission of quadrature-squeezed light through free-space channels.
Abstract Free-space ground-to-ground links will be an integral part of future quantum communication networks. The implementation of free-space and fiber links in daylight inter-modal configurations is however still hard to achieve, due to the impact of atmospheric turbulence, which strongly decreases the coupling efficiency into the fiber. In this work, we present a comprehensive model of the performance of a free-space ground-to-ground quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on the efficient-BB84 protocol with active decoy states. Our model takes into account the atmospheric channel contribution, the transmitter and receiver telescope design constraints, the parameters of the quantum source and detectors, and the finite-key analysis to produce a set of requirements and optimal design choices for a QKD system operating under specific channel conditions. The channel attenuation is calculated considering all effects deriving from the atmospheric propagation (absorption, beam broadening, beam wandering, scintillation, and wavefront distortions), as well as the effect of fiber-coupling in the presence of a partial adaptive optics correction with finite control bandwidth. We find that the channel fluctuation statistics must be considered to correctly estimate the effect of the saturation rate of the single-photon detectors, which may otherwise lead to an overestimation of the secret key rate. We further present strategies to minimize the impact of diffuse atmospheric background in daylight operation by means of spectral and temporal filtering.