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IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering

Quantum Wavelength-Division Multiplexing and Multiple-Access Communication Systems and Networks: Advanced Applications

M. Bathaee, Mohammad Rezai, Jawad A. Salehi

Published Jan 1, 2025• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A cost-effective global quantum internet may be developed using the existing communication infrastructure. This paper examines the quantum version of three conventional wavelength-division-multiplexing and multiple-access (WDM) communication systems and networks. They are Lambdanet-based broadcast WDM networks, quantum routers based on a waveguide grating router (WGR), and fiber-to-the-quantum nodes (FTTQ) that are fed by two opposing and extreme quantum light signals, namely the coherent (Glauber) and number (Fock) states. Using the coherent states, we identify the classical behavior of the quantum WDM (QWDM) networks. Furthermore, employing quantum single-photon sources, exclusive quantum results, such as quantum correlations occurring in the receivers's states, are studied in these WDM communication systems and networks. Finally, we provide secure-key rate estimation for Lambdanet and WGR-based quantum key distribution (QKD) networks leveraging the developed QWDM. As compared to Lambdanet, WGR obtains a higher rate of secure keys.

DOI
10.1109/tqe.2025.3569338

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A cost-effective global quantum internet may be developed using the existing communication infrastructure. This paper examines the quantum version of three conventional wavelength-division-multiplexing and multiple-access (WDM) communication systems and networks. They are Lambdanet-based broadcast WDM networks, quantum routers based on a waveguide grating router (WGR), and fiber-to-the-quantum nodes (FTTQ) that are fed by two opposing and extreme quantum light signals, namely the coherent (Glauber) and number (Fock) states. Using the coherent states, we identify the classical behavior of the quantum WDM (QWDM) networks. Furthermore, employing quantum single-photon sources, exclusive quantum results, such as quantum correlations occurring in the receivers's states, are studied in these WDM communication systems and networks. Finally, we provide secure-key rate estimation for Lambdanet and WGR-based quantum key distribution (QKD) networks leveraging the developed QWDM. As compared to Lambdanet, WGR obtains a higher rate of secure keys.
The march towards successful global quantum internet requires introducing all-quantum networks and signal processing techniques. In this paper, we develop and discuss methods for various wavelength-division-multiplexing and multiple-access (WDM) communication systems and networks in fully quantum mechanical terms to obtain all-quantum WDM (QWDM) systems and networks. We begin the paper with a detailed discussion on various possible narrow-band and wideband sources of light signals used in typical WDM systems, such as coherent, number, and Poissonian mixed states. After introducing a generic and fully quantum mechanical WDM network, we develop methodologies for obtaining the necessary mathematical evolutions through wavelength distributors such as arrayed-waveguide-grating multiplexers and demultiplexers, and wavelength-sensitive and -insensitive broadcasting star couplers. In particular, using the methodologies introduced, one can use the results to obtain a complete and exact expression for any evolved pure quantum light signal through a typical WDM network using the aforementioned optical components. To test the validity and robustness of our mathematical expression for the evolved QWDM light signals, we use two opposing and extreme signals, namely, coherent state and number state, as inputs to various WDM communication and network systems and architecture. The methodologies and the required mathematical QWDM models introduced here can be extended to any fully quantum network architecture deemed necessary in a future global quantum internet, e.g., fiber to the home, Lambdanet-based broadcast WDM networks, and quantum routers based on a waveguide grating router.
This paper investigates the mathematical model of the quantum wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) network based on the entanglement distribution with the least required wavelengths and passive devices. By adequately utilizing wavelength multiplexers, demultiplexers, and star couplers, N wavelengths are enough to distribute the entanglement among each pair of N users. Moreover, the number of devices employed is reduced by substituting a waveguide grating router for multiplexers and demultiplexers. Furthermore, this study examines implementing the BBM92 quantum key distribution in an entangled-based quantum WDM network. The proposed scheme in this paper may be applied to potential applications such as teleportation in entangled-based quantum WDM 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.
It is well known that optical access networks are able to provide high data rates over long distances and to a reasonable number of users. Security and privacy are always a challenge for public accessible network infrastructures. Especially in time-division multiplexing passive optical networks (TDM-PONs), in which the downstream signal is broadcasted to all users connected via the same wavelength channel in a shared fiber link, privacy can be a critical concern. Although encryption at the application layer can provide a high level of security, this can be achieved only if the encryption key distribution is perfectly save. On the other hand, encryption on the physical layer such as quantum cryptography or, more precisely, quantum key distribution (QKD) is a very promising approach to achieve secure communication. However, there remain several issues that have to be solved before the quantum cryptography reaches the maturity level needed for a cost effective implementation in practical networks. In this paper, we address quantum key distribution (QKD) over passive optical access networks, which is an enabling technology required to cost efficiently deploy practical quantum encrypted data communication in the access area. We study different methods to integrate QKD systems in conventional optical access networks and quantitatively evaluate their suitability for a potential implementation.
Future communications networks not only should enable massive exchange of classical bits, but also the transmission of quantum bits on which many quantum applications rely. This will be the key to offering quantum technologies in a cost-efficient way, and it should encompass the integration of quantum and classical networks at the core of existing optical communications networks, as well as at the access end of such networks. In this work, we cover a range of proposals that enable such an integration for one of the imminent applications of quantum technologies, i.e., quantum key distribution (QKD), by which users can securely exchange a secret key for their cryptographic needs. This will include using wavelength division multiplexing techniques to send quantum and classical data on the same fiber as well as wireless access for QKD users to passive optical networks. In each case, we explore optimal arrangements to find the best way forward for an amicable coexistence.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) uses the laws of quantum mechanics to distribute secret keys with information-theoretic security. To realize QKD for secure communications among multiple distant users, fiber-based QKD networks can be deployed with today's available technologies. Incorporating QKD into existing wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network infrastructure provides a practical way to reduce the difficulty and cost of QKD networking. Nonetheless, the costs of QKD nodes and QKD links are still considered as the major barriers to long-distance QKD network deployment in practice. In this work, we study how to minimize the cost of deploying QKD-over-WDM backbone networks. We introduce a general architecture of QKD-over-WDM backbone networks. A novel cost-oriented model is defined to elaborate the cost-minimized problem, in which various QKD network components including QKD transceivers, QKD auxiliary equipment for QKD backbone nodes and trusted repeater nodes (TRNs), and QKD links are considered. The physical-layer parameters such as secret-key rate, physical distance, and the layout of TRNs are also incorporated in our defined model. We develop an integer linear programming (ILP) model and a novel cost-efficient QKD networking (CEQN) heuristic algorithm to address the cost-minimized problem. The extensive simulations indicate that our proposed approaches are effective in reducing the cost of deploying QKD-over-WDM backbone networks, where the designed CEQN algorithm is efficient to demonstrate similar to the ILP model. Finally, some open issues in future work are discussed, given that this work only presents an early highlevel analysis as opposed to a definitive detailed model.