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Physica Scripta

Mode-pairing quantum key distribution based on wavelength division multiplexing in multi-user networks

Wei Cui, Chen Yang, Guoqi Huang, Rongzhen Jiao

Published Jul 4, 2024• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD), a protocol that combines high performance and flexibility, not only eliminates the need for global phase locking but also beats the rate-transmittance bound. Such remarkable characteristics are poised to further advance the practical application of quantum communication networks. In this paper, MP-QKD is extended to the scenario of multi-user communication networks. MP-QKD enables concurrent operation across multiple channels by integrating wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology, facilitating secure communication among multiple users. The performance of MP-QKD in multi-channel concurrent operation is analyzed through simulating various experimental conditions. The asymmetric MP-QKD case is also considered and pulse intensity optimization improves performance for asymmetric network channels. These results delineate the performance of MP-QKD with WDM technology, highlighting its significant potential for application in quantum communication networks.

DOI
10.1088/1402-4896/ad5f61

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Abstract Mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD), a protocol that combines high performance and flexibility, not only eliminates the need for global phase locking but also beats the rate-transmittance bound. Such remarkable characteristics are poised to further advance the practical application of quantum communication networks. In this paper, MP-QKD is extended to the scenario of multi-user communication networks. MP-QKD enables concurrent operation across multiple channels by integrating wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology, facilitating secure communication among multiple users. The performance of MP-QKD in multi-channel concurrent operation is analyzed through simulating various experimental conditions. The asymmetric MP-QKD case is also considered and pulse intensity optimization improves performance for asymmetric network channels. These results delineate the performance of MP-QKD with WDM technology, highlighting its significant potential for application in quantum communication networks.
Mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD) holds great promise for the practical implementation of QKD in the near future. It combines the security advantages of measurement device independence while still being capable of breaking the Pirandola-Laurenza-Ottaviani-Banchi bound without the need for highly demanding phase-locking and phase-tracking technologies for deployment. In this work, we explore optimization strategies for MP-QKD in a wavelength-division multiplexing scenario. The simulation results reveal that incorporation of multiple wavelengths not only leads to a direct increase in key rate but also enhances the pairing efficiency by employing our novel pairing strategies among different wavelengths. As a result, our work provides a new avenue for the future application and development of MP-QKD.
Mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD) can surpass the repeaterless rate-transmittance bound (Pirandola-Laurenza-Ottaviani-Banchi bound) without requiring global phase locking, exhibiting remarkable flexibility. However, MP-QKD necessitates equal communication distances in two channels, which is a challenging requirement in practical applications. To address this limitation, we extend the original MP-QKD to asymmetric cases. Our decoy-state estimation confirms that asymmetric channel transmittances and asymmetric intensities do not compromise the security of the protocol. We focus on the pulse-intensity relationship, a key factor for optimizing the performance of asymmetric MP-QKD. Unlike previous asymmetric protocols, the intensities of different bases in asymmetric MP-QKD cannot be decoupled. We introduce an optimal-pulse-intensity method, adaptable to various scenarios, to enhance key rates by calculating ideal pulse intensities. Simulation results in various representative scenarios indicate that our method effectively reduces the impact of asymmetric channel distances on MP-QKD performance, enhancing its practical applicability.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security for communication. The mode-pairing (MP) protocol emerges as a promising solution for long-distance QKD by eliminating the need for a global phase reference while maintaining the repeaterlike rate-loss scaling. Recent implementations have demonstrated its potential, but they either rely on costly ultrastable lasers or struggle with phase fluctuations from commercial lasers, particularly over long distances. As a result, surpassing the repeaterless bound with a practical system remains a challenge. In this work, we demonstrate a practical high-performance MP-QKD system using commercial lasers. To address phase fluctuations, we propose a frequency-tracking scheme based on fast Fourier transformation, enabling us to extend the pairing length to 2 × 10 5 pulses ( 160 μ s ). We propose a model to carefully analyze the phase noise and optimize the system parameters. Our system achieves an optimal secret key rate of 47.8 bit / s over 403 km of standard fiber (76.5 dB loss), exceeding the repeaterless bound by a factor of 2.92. Furthermore, we compare MP-QKD and twin-field QKD under various practical conditions and clarify the distinct application scenarios of the two protocols. These results confirm the feasibility of MP-QKD using cost-effective commercial technologies, paving the way for scalable quantum communication 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 quantum key distribution (QKD) research, which is drawing attention as the next secure communication, is actively expanding from point to point system to network architecture. In QKD network system, it is important to increase the number of users who can securely communicate. Up to date, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) architecture has successfully expanded the number of channels without significant system loss, but there is a limitation of increasing channels considering the range of telecommunication wavelength and crosstalk noise, etc. In this article, we propose a polarizing division method that increases user channels independently of wavelengths. The proposed architecture can increase the number of wavelength multiplexed channels by a multiple of the polarization number. We identify the issues in the QKD network system that may occur when using polarization and wavelengths simultaneously, then provide solutions and optimize the system operation accordingly. Finally, we describe a field test result of a one to many QKD network system that shows successful key exchange with 3% QBER.
Abstract Mode-pairing quantum key distribution (MP-QKD) is an excellent scheme that can exceed the repeaterless rate-transmittance bound without complex phase locking. Nevertheless, MP-QKD usually needs to ensure that the communication distances of the two channels are equal. To address the problem, the asymmetric MP-QKD protocol is proposed. In this paper, we enhance the performance of the asymmetric MP-QKD protocol based on the advantage distillation (AD) method without modifying the quantum process. The simulation results show that the AD method can extend the communication distance by about 70 km in the case of asymmetry. And we observe that as the misalignment error increases, the AD method further increases the expandable communication distance. Our work can further enhance the robustness and promote the practical application of the asymmetric MP-QKD.