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Nanosystems Physics Chemistry Mathematics

Theoretical study of the EDFA optical amplifier implementation scheme improving the performance of a quantum key distribution system integrated with an WDM optical transport network

D. V. Tupyakov, N. Ivankov, Irina O. Vorontsova, Fedor Dmitrievich Kiselev, V. I. Egorov

Published Apr 29, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A version of an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) application scheme designed to increase the efficiency of the simultaneous quantum key distribution session and transmission of information by classical channels in a single optical fiber is explored.A theoretical study of the possibility to use EDFA in the explored way was conducted by numerical simulation methods.The mathematical model is based on the EDFA dynamics equations and the equations that determine the secure key generation rate in case of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution.A method for determining the optimal parameters of the scheme under study is described and the evaluation of the feasibility of using EDFA in the explored way is performed.A comparative analysis of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution system performance when integrated into an optical network is made in terms of the secure key generation rate for the cases when EDFA is either used or not.The results obtained demonstrate high efficiency of the scheme under study, i.e., the maximum achievable distance of the secure key distribution is increased while maintaining the efficiency of the information transmission.

DOI
10.17586/2220-8054-2023-14-2-178-185

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A version of an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) application scheme designed to increase the efficiency of the simultaneous quantum key distribution session and transmission of information by classical channels in a single optical fiber is explored.A theoretical study of the possibility to use EDFA in the explored way was conducted by numerical simulation methods.The mathematical model is based on the EDFA dynamics equations and the equations that determine the secure key generation rate in case of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution.A method for determining the optimal parameters of the scheme under study is described and the evaluation of the feasibility of using EDFA in the explored way is performed.A comparative analysis of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution system performance when integrated into an optical network is made in terms of the secure key generation rate for the cases when EDFA is either used or not.The results obtained demonstrate high efficiency of the scheme under study, i.e., the maximum achievable distance of the secure key distribution is increased while maintaining the efficiency of the information transmission.
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.
Entanglement-based quantum key distribution (EB-QKD) is considered an important implementation method for fully connected quantum networks. Due to practical considerations for conserving fiber resources, the demand for integrating EB-QKD into existing optical networks through wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) in the same fiber (referred to as EB-WDM-QKD) is increasingly urgent. However, the noise generated from the classical system is an inherent limitation that restricts the performance of EB-WDM-QKD. In this work, we proposed an improved scheme that employs optical amplifiers to enhance the performance of EB-WDM-QKD. Under the fixed classical received power scenario, the transmission distance can be increased by more than 70 km compared to the original EB-WDM-QKD scheme without amplifiers. Moreover, for the scenario where the launch power of data lasers and amplifiers in the classical channel is non-adjustable, we applied the advantage distillation (AD) method to further enhance the performance of EB-WDM-QKD, and the transmission distance can be enhanced by more than 50 km. Our work can significantly enhance the performance of the EB-WDM-QKD system by optimizing the configuration of the classical subsystem and the post-processing of the quantum subsystem. The methods have the potential to be extended to various WDM-QKD systems, providing new perspectives for the advancement of WDM-QKD.
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.
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.
Subject of study. This study investigates a method of finding a sequence of nodes in a metropolitan optical transport network to connect a sender and receiver through a quantum channel propagating in the same optical fiber as the information channels to maximize the secret key generation rate. Aim of the work. The purpose of this work is to route the subcarrier wave quantum key distribution in a metropolitan optical transport network to maximize the secret key generation rate. Method. A metropolitan optical transport network is represented as a graph, where the vertices are the network nodes and the edges are the fiber optic lines connecting them. The weight of an edge corresponds to the secret key generation rate on the respective segment of the fiber optic line. The final key generation rate is limited by the slowest section of the path. The desired optimal route can be found by solving the graph bottleneck problem. A brute force algorithm is used. Main results. The optimal paths connecting two given nodes via a quantum channel for different network topologies are found. The results demonstrate the need for a more efficient algorithm when considering a larger number of nodes. Practical significance. The findings of this study could be used in the integration of quantum communications in existing metropolitan optical transport networks.
A quantum key distribution system based on the subcarrier wave modulation method has been demonstrated which employs the BB84 protocol with a strong reference to generate secure bits at a rate of 16.5 kbit/s with an error of 0.5% over an optical channel of 10 dB loss, and 18 bits/s with an error of 0.75% over 25 dB of channel loss. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the highest channel loss reported for secure quantum key distribution using the subcarrier wave approach. A passive unidirectional scheme has been used to compensate for the polarization dependence of the phase modulators in the receiver module, which resulted in a high visibility of 98.8%. The system is thus fully insensitive to polarization fluctuations and robust to environmental changes, making the approach promising for use in optical telecommunication networks. Further improvements in secure key rate and transmission distance can be achieved by implementing the decoy states protocol or by optimizing the mean photon number used in line with experimental parameters.