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IEEE Microwaves, Antennas, and Propagation Conference (MAPCON)

Experimental Demonstration of Coexistence of Classical and Quantum Communication in Quantum Key Distribution Link

Gokul Agasthilingam, Harinee Natarajan, Varun Raghunathan

Published Dec 11, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This paper presents a quantum key distribution (QKD) system that combines classical and quantum signals in a single optical channel for quantum key distribution application. We carefully optimize the communication link by placing the bright classical channel wavelength longer than the weak quantum one, number and specification of wavelength division multiplexers, and maximizing on-off extinction in the intensity modulator to minimize crosstalk of bright classical photons onto the quantum channel. Our experiments demonstrate a secret key rate (SKR) of 4.39 kbps for an emulated channel length of 65.5 km with less than 3% quantum bit error rate (QBER). The experimental study discussed here is relevant for utilization of existing optical fiber networks for QKD, making the system more robust for practical usage.

DOI
10.1109/mapcon58678.2023.10464084

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This paper presents a quantum key distribution (QKD) system that combines classical and quantum signals in a single optical channel for quantum key distribution application. We carefully optimize the communication link by placing the bright classical channel wavelength longer than the weak quantum one, number and specification of wavelength division multiplexers, and maximizing on-off extinction in the intensity modulator to minimize crosstalk of bright classical photons onto the quantum channel. Our experiments demonstrate a secret key rate (SKR) of 4.39 kbps for an emulated channel length of 65.5 km with less than 3% quantum bit error rate (QBER). The experimental study discussed here is relevant for utilization of existing optical fiber networks for QKD, making the system more robust for practical usage.
We demonstrate the realization of quantum key distribution (QKD) when combined with classical optical communication, and synchronous signals within a single optical fiber. In the experiment, the classical communication sources use Fabry-Pérot (FP) lasers, which are implemented extensively in optical access networks. To perform QKD, multistage band-stop filtering techniques are developed, and a wavelength-division multiplexing scheme is designed for the multi-longitudinal-mode FP lasers. We have managed to maintain sufficient isolation among the quantum channel, the synchronous channel and the classical channels to guarantee good QKD performance. Finally, the quantum bit error rate remains below a level of 2% across the entire practical application range. The proposed multiplexing scheme can ensure low classical light loss, and enables QKD over fiber lengths of up to 45 km simultaneously when the fibers are populated with bidirectional FP laser communications. Our demonstration paves the way for application of QKD to current optical access networks, where FP lasers are widely used by the end users.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the most practical applications in quantum information processing, which can generate information-theoretical secure keys between remote parties. With the help of the wavelength-division multiplexing technique, QKD has been integrated with the classical optical communication networks. The wavelength-division multiplexing can be further improved by the mode-wavelength dual multiplexing technique with few-mode fiber (FMF), which has additional modal isolation and large effective core area of mode, and particularly is practical in fabrication and splicing technology compared with the multi-core fiber. Here, we present for the first time a QKD implementation coexisting with classical optical communication over weakly-coupled FMF using all-fiber mode-selective couplers. The co-propagation of QKD with one 100 Gbps classical data channel at -2.60 dBm launched power is achieved over 86 km FMF with 1.3 kbps real-time secure key generation. Compared with single-mode fiber using wavelength-division multiplexing, given the same fiber-input power, the Raman noise in FMF using the mode-wavelength dual multiplexing is reduced by 86% in average. Our work implements an important approach to the integration between QKD and classical optical communication and previews the compatibility of quantum communications with the next-generation mode division multiplexing networks.
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.
The integration of quantum key distribution (QKD) and classical optical communication has attracted widespread attention. In this Letter, we experimentally demonstrate a real-time co-propagation of 1 Tbps for 10 classical channels with one discrete-variable QKD channel in the weakly coupled few-mode fiber (FMF). Based on the selection of optimal device parameters and wavelength assignment of classical channels, as well as the optimization of equipment performance, a secure key rate of as high as 2.7 kbps of coexistence transmission of QKD and classical optical communication can be achieved using a 100.96 km weakly coupled FMF. Therefore, this study is a step toward realizing long-distance quantum-classical coexistence transmission.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) guarantees unconditional security and has thus been intensely studied both from a theoretical and an experimental point of view [1]. However, limitations due to transmission loss and noise are still detrimental for these systems performance in terms of reachable distance and key rates, having so far confined QKD implementations to the use of dedicated channels and hence reduced a successful integration with the classical network, with few exceptions [2–6]. In this work we demonstrate a step forward in the co-existence of QKD with classical bright signals, exploiting a 7.9-km long 37-core heterogeneous multicore fiber (MCF) [7], and a space division multiplexing (SDM) technique to achieve a total of 87 Mbit/s secret key generation rate (SKR) in the finite key scenario with a simultaneous co-propagating classical signal of 10 Gbit/s.
Quantum communications is an emerging field with many promising applications. Its usefulness and range of applicability in optical fiber will depend strongly on the extent to which quantum channels can be reliably transported over transparent reconfigurable optical networks, rather than being limited to dedicated point-to-point links. This presents a number of challenges, particularly when single-photon quantum and much higher power classical optical signals are combined onto a single physical infrastructure to take advantage of telecom networks built to carry conventional traffic. In this paper, we report on experimental demonstrations of successful quantum key distribution (QKD) in this complex environment, and on measurements of physical-layer impairments, including Raman scattering from classical optical channels, which can limit QKD performance. We then extend the analysis using analytical models incorporating impairments, to investigate QKD performance while multiplexed with conventional data channels at other wavelengths. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results for evaluating the most promising domains of use for QKD in real-world optical networks.