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2018Systems of Signal Synchronization, Generating and Processing in Telecommunications (SYNCHROINFO)

The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields on the Transmission of Information Over an Optical Cable

Joscelin Rabenandrasana, O. V. Kolesnikov, D. V. Bolotov, O. S. Belova, A. G. Temnikov

Published Jul 1, 2024• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The Kerr effect and the Faraday effect are considered for studying the effects of the transverse electric field and the longitudinal magnetic field of lightning in an optical fiber. Presented are experimental study results of electromagnetic fields created by discharges between an artificial thunderstorm cloud and the ground obtained while using the experimental measurement complex “GROZA”. The study results of quantum communication channel and its characteristics, when affected by a magnetic field created by a pulsed current on fiber-optic communication lines are presented. It is demonstrated that an optical cable, through which data protected by quantum key distribution technology is transmitted, can be used as a sensor of alternating magnetic fields, as well as lightning discharges, where transmission characteristics such as reduction of the quantum key transmission rate and QBER increase are used as means of registration.

DOI
10.1109/synchroinfo61835.2024.10617776

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The Kerr effect and the Faraday effect are considered for studying the effects of the transverse electric field and the longitudinal magnetic field of lightning in an optical fiber. Presented are experimental study results of electromagnetic fields created by discharges between an artificial thunderstorm cloud and the ground obtained while using the experimental measurement complex “GROZA”. The study results of quantum communication channel and its characteristics, when affected by a magnetic field created by a pulsed current on fiber-optic communication lines are presented. It is demonstrated that an optical cable, through which data protected by quantum key distribution technology is transmitted, can be used as a sensor of alternating magnetic fields, as well as lightning discharges, where transmission characteristics such as reduction of the quantum key transmission rate and QBER increase are used as means of registration.
Subject of study. Technology for quantum key distribution in fiber-optic communication lines under the influence of electromagnetic fields generated by atmospheric discharges is studied. Aim of study. A test bench for testing experimental techniques to be used in studying the effect of atmospheric discharges on transmission of a quantum key via fiber-optic communication lines is developed. Method. The characteristics of a quantum communication channel upon exposure of a coil containing an optical fiber to a magnetic field from a pulsed current are experimentally studied. Main results. An experimental test bench has been created and methods have been developed to evaluate the influence of magnetic fields arising from atmospheric discharges (lightning) on the transmission speed of a quantum key in fiber-optic communication lines. It was shown that quantum key distribution blocks using the BB84 phase-encoding protocol continue to show operational stability when the optical cable is exposed to alternating magnetic fields of up to 1.2 mT. However, the very fact of exposure to magnetic fields above 0.8 mT can be detected by a systematic decrease in the quantum key transmission rate and an increase in the quantum bit error rate (QBER) by 0.5%–1%. Practical significance. The laboratory test bench and methods developed herein support magnetic-field testing of various optical cables used for transmission of qubits. Fiber-optic networks through which qubits are transmitted can serve as a distributed lightning sensor; an increase in the level of quantum errors and a decrease in quantum key generation rate will be observed in any segment of an optical network where a lightning discharge generates strong magnetic fields.
Modern research shows the influence of atmospheric electricity and lightning on the operation of fiber optic communication lines. In particular, such effects can affect the currently developing communication systems protected by quantum key distribution technology. Modern communication systems using quantum key distribution technology can be tuned out from various "slow" external effects caused by thermal or mechanical effects. However, lightning discharges and the strong electromagnetic fields induced by them are capable of exerting an effect in the microsecond range. Since it is difficult to collect the amount of information necessary for analysis using only natural measurements, this paper describes the results of physical modeling of the effect of both lightning discharges and strong electromagnetic fields caused by thunderstorm activity on signals transmitted via optical communication lines.
The article studies the influence of electromagnetic influence on a fiber-optic communication system with quantum cryptographic equipment. The developed test benches and methods of experimental study of the influence of electromagnetic effects on a communication system with quantum cryptographic equipment with fiber-optic communication line are presented. The results of experimental study of electromagnetic influence on the communication system with quantum key distribution and an optical cable are discussed. The results of studying showed that the influence of magnetic fields on the transmission of an optical signal through an optical fiber leads to a significant rotation of the plane of polarization, and therefore to errors and failures in the system with quantum key distribution. At the same time, the experiment showed that the influence of electric fields is insignificant. The obtained data emphasize the need to take into account the electromagnetic environment when designing and operating communication systems with a fiber-optic communication line
The problem of quantitative description of the total effect of electromagnetic fields of lightning discharges on the polarization state (SOP) of light in fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL) of the ITU-T G. 652 standard is considered. The cumulative angle parameter is proposed, which is defined as the integral of the norm of the local Stokes rotation vector along the line length, taking into account random birefringence, magnetooptical Faraday effect and electro-optical Kerr effect. Using the Jones matrix formalism, analytical expressions for cumulative polarization rotation angle are obtained in terms of the Verde constant, the induction of the lightning magnetic field, and the correlation length of the polarization-mode dispersion (PMD). It is established that the cumulative angle is related to the dynamic differential group delay (DGD), as well as to the quantum error coefficient QBER for the BB84 quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol. Based on the obtained dependences, a classification of exposure modes (I-IV) is formed according to the lightning current amplitude and the distance to the discharge channel. Numerical estimates are derived for SSMF (G. 652), DSF (G. 653), and NZ-DSF (G. 655) fibers with line lengths up to 50 km and lightning currents of10−105 kA\mathbf{1 0 - 1 0 5 ~ k A}10−105 kA. It is shown that at Category I currents (over 105 kA) at a distance of 100 m, the rate of SOP change reaches17.5Mrad/s17.5 \text{Mrad} / \mathrm{s}17.5Mrad/s, which leads to a critical increase in QBER and termination the QKD session. The results allow us to use the cumulative angle as a single integral criterion for lightning resistance of high-speed and quantum fiber-optic lines in the design of routes and justification of lightning protection parameters.
A laboratory setup has been created that makes it possible to conduct comprehensive studies of the influence of atmospheric discharges on the transmission of quantum keys over optical communication lines. The effect of a strong action of an electric field from a charged water aerosol on the polarization of radiation passing along an all-dielectric fiber-optic cable has been found. The dynamics of changes in the optical fiber arising from the action of electrostatic fields of a charged cloud, preceding the electrical breakdown of air, has been registered. An analysis of the need to protect quantum networks from the effects of atmospheric discharges is presented.
Quantum key distribution technology is increasingly used in the modern world, including for organizing secure information exchange. However, the influence of various external influences on such communication channels has not been studied enough. The paper presents the results of a study of the influence of discharges simulating lightning near a communication channel on the quantum distribution of a key transmitted over the channel. The quantum key was transmitted using a scientific and educational complex using phase coding. Despite the significant difference in the time of discharge action and the time of key formation, in some cases an increase in quantum bit errors is noted. A sharp jump in QBER was observed during the discharge, and a further slow increase in bit errors after the end of the discharge current.