We propose a method by which two radio frequency (RF) communication terminals exchange encryption keys or other data securely. This method draws on the approach developed for quantum key distribution (QKD) for detecting eavesdroppers but our method does not use any quantum properties at all. Instead, by exploiting the effects an eavesdropper has on channel stability, we explore a line-of-sight link radio in which data transfer rates are so high as to approach the Shannon limit. With very steep rises in bit error rate accompanying a small degradation of signal-to-noise limits for certain forward error correction codes, it becomes possible to infer the existence of an eavesdropper before they are able to obtain a complete key. We describe our method and analyse one possible implementation using low density parity check codes with quadrature phase shift keying modulation. The proposed technique is in principle far easier to implement than quantum-based approaches for RF and optical wireless links since the required hardware is readily available and the basic principles are well known and well understood. Finally, we show our method to have a higher key rate and spectral efficiency than those of QKD.
We propose a method by which two radio frequency (RF) communication terminals exchange encryption keys or other data securely. This method draws on the approach developed for quantum key distribution (QKD) for detecting eavesdroppers but our method does not use any quantum properties at all. Instead, by exploiting the effects an eavesdropper has on channel stability, we explore a line-of-sight link radio in which data transfer rates are so high as to approach the Shannon limit. With very steep rises in bit error rate accompanying a small degradation of signal-to-noise limits for certain forward error correction codes, it becomes possible to infer the existence of an eavesdropper before they are able to obtain a complete key. We describe our method and analyse one possible implementation using low density parity check codes with quadrature phase shift keying modulation. The proposed technique is in principle far easier to implement than quantum-based approaches for RF and optical wireless links since the required hardware is readily available and the basic principles are well known and well understood. Finally, we show our method to have a higher key rate and spectral efficiency than those of QKD.
Abstract Free-space optical (FSO) links offer a practical approach to realize quantum key distribution (QKD) in a global scale. However, when one wants to further extend the distance from the geostationary orbit to the ground, currently known QKD schemes cannot realize practical key rates mainly due to the diffraction losses of a laser beam. If the facts that the FSO links are highly directional and must be used in the line-of-sight (LoS) condition are taken into account, one may impose some physical restrictions on an eavesdropping model to explore longer-distance QKD. In this paper, we propose a novel FSO secret key agreement scheme, line-of-sight QKD (LoS-QKD), based on a quantum wiretap channel. In our model, an eavesdropper can tap only a limited fraction of the FSO signal beam but perform any physically allowable operations on the tapped signals. Fading effects which are significant in the FSO links are fully taken into account. We provide a security proof for the differential phase shift (DPS) keying scheme in terms of the metric which meets the composability. We investigate numerically the performances of LoS-QKD with DPS keying, including finite-length analysis, showing that our proposed scheme can realize high-speed and long-distance secret key agreement with information-theoretic security.
This paper aims to take a new look at a novel security solution for 5G-based Internet of things (IoT) networks using quantum key distribution (QKD). Quantum keys are created and sent from a key distribution server to IoT gateways thanks to radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems. More specifically, the raw key is encoded into the intensity of radio-frequency subcarrier before being sent to the gNB by optical fiber. It is then wirelessly forwarded to IoT gateways through radio frequency links. The major findings of the study reveal that the proposed system is an effective approach in order to distribute the quantum key with low quantum bit error rate and high secret key rate for 5G-based IoT networks.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) stands as a pioneering method for establishing information-theoretically secure communication channels by utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics. In the security proof of QKD, the phase error rate serves as a critical indicator of information leakage and directly influences the security of the shared key bits between communicating parties, Alice and Bob. In estimating the upper bound of the phase error rate, phase randomization and subsequent postselection mechanisms serve pivotal roles across numerous QKD protocols. Here we make a precise phase error rate analysis for QKD protocols with phase postselection, which helps us to accurately bound the amount of information an eavesdropper may obtain. We further apply our analysis in sending-or-not-sending twin-field quantum key distribution (SNS-TFQKD) and mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD). The simulation results confirm that our precise phase error analysis can noticeably improve the key rate performance especially over long distances in practice. Note that our method does not require alterations to the existing experimental hardware or protocol steps. It can be readily applied within current SNS-TF-QKD and MP-QKD for higher key rate generation.
The Wireless communication networks have been increasing their speed at a fast pace while the data sent over unsecured channels has become a major concern due to security issues. The advancement in cryptography techniques is based mainly on computational hardness, which will be endangered as quantum computing technology advances. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a way to share keys in a secure manner based on quantum mechanics principles, which do not allow any kind of unauthorized access. Here we present a wireless communication framework that is secure in nature and makes use of Quantum Key Distribution along with support from Grover’s quantum search algorithm. In particular, the overall system provides generation, distribution, and verification of keys among communicating partners through both quantum channel and classical communication channel security features. Using Grover’s algorithmize one can make key validation more efficient without much increasing computational need for compromising system performance. This will result in high performance systems. This thesis proposed model covers the basic aspects of the techniques, error correction and key sifters. All this together helps to determine a verifiable secret key implementation as a practicable instrument. The system’s performance is simulated in an assesment based evaluation for system security strength, rate of key generation and resistance to eavesdropping threats .This shows that the Security System provides protection against both Classical as well as Quantum Threats and also guarantees efficiency in their communication. The method proposed above is a scalable and future-ready security solutions for the next generation of wireless networks. It does so by contributing to the fortified communication systems in the quantum era and helping develop an enhanced quantum cryptographic system.
Free-space optical (FSO) communication provides a promising alternative solution to the traditional radio frequency (RF) communications. Compared to the RF technology, there are many advantages of FSO communications, such as ultra-high bandwidth, license-free spectrum, low inter-channel interference, and energy-efficient transmission. The potential applications for FSO communication include the last-one-mile access link from the fiber-based backbone network, low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications, high-altitude base station platforms or vehicles, deep-space communications, and in-building automation connections. As the FSO technology becomes mature and increasingly involved, the security and reliability requirements of such applications also become crucial. Regarding the security issues, although the FSO communication is inherently more secure than the RF counterpart due to high directivity of its line-of-sight (LOS) link, it can still suffer from optical wire-tapping attack. There are many different application schemes that an eavesdropper can still probe the FSO link. Traditionally, to protect the communication, many works have been done on encryption layer and upper network layer, such as computationally intensive cryptographic algorithms and message exchanging protocols. In recent years, physical-layer security (PLS) has been getting more attentions as it provides an extra layer of security against eavesdropping. The PLS schemes, in general can be categorized into two main categories: classical PLS and quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols. The classical PLS is based on the information theoretic security analysis, while the QKD security is guaranteed by the quantum mechanics laws. Both techniques have been studied for FSO channels. In the first half of this dissertation, we study the PLS in a LOS FSO channel using orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing and show that higher secrecy capacity can be achieved using OAM multiplexing technology in the presence of atmospheric turbulence effects. Then, we proposed an adaptation scheme for QKD system over FSO channel with different QKD protocols, i.e. BB84 and decoy state protocols. By adapting the source brightness based on the channel condition, we optimized the secret key rate (SKR) of the QKD system. Furthermore, we proposed a multiple spatial modes-based QKD system with backpropagation method to increase the total SKR through parallel channels. Regarding the reliability of an optical communication system as well as information reconciliation for both PLS and QKD schemes, the forward error correction (FEC) becomes an essential technique to enable high-speed transmission. The FEC with low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes has been studied for decades from LDPC block codes to the most recent spatially-coupled (SC) LDPC codes. For FSO communications, due to the time-varying nature of FSO channels, the capability of rate adaptation is important to achieve a consistent reliable transmission. In the second half of this dissertation, we proposed unified FPGA-based architecture to implement both quasi-cyclic (QC) LDPC codes and SC-LDPC codes with rate adaptation capability. The performance is verified through FPGA emulation to show good error floor properties. To further validate the rate adaptation capability, we have built a spatial light modulator (SLM)-based FSO channel emulator to test the adaptive coding scheme. Furthermore, we have conducted a fiber-based experiment with our rate adaptative coding scheme to show that the proposed adaptive coding scheme can be also used in dynamic fiber-based networks.