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Photonics

A MATLAB-Based Simulation of Quantum Key Distribution Protocols at Telecom Wavelengths Under Various Realistic Conditions

Vishal Sharma

Published Feb 28, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate the feasibility of single and entangled photon-based quantum key distribution protocols at telecommunication wavelengths with two types of single photon detectors, namely InGaAs/InP and Silicon-APD, under various realistic conditions. The purpose of the current optical fiber-based simulation is to analyze the various performance parameters. In addition to these, we analyze the effect of possible attacks on the one and two weak decoy state protocols under investigation with the two deployed avalanche photodiodes. The simulation results obtained show that the one and two weak decoy states used in the entangled-based protocol at telecommunication wavelengths with considered attacks and under various industrial parameters outperforms the single photon-based quantum key distribution protocol. In addition, it is also observed that Silicon-APD (the avalanche photodiode) performs better than InGaAs/InP-APD when considering all the conditions.

DOI
10.3390/photonics13030234

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We investigate the feasibility of single and entangled photon-based quantum key distribution protocols at telecommunication wavelengths with two types of single photon detectors, namely InGaAs/InP and Silicon-APD, under various realistic conditions. The purpose of the current optical fiber-based simulation is to analyze the various performance parameters. In addition to these, we analyze the effect of possible attacks on the one and two weak decoy state protocols under investigation with the two deployed avalanche photodiodes. The simulation results obtained show that the one and two weak decoy states used in the entangled-based protocol at telecommunication wavelengths with considered attacks and under various industrial parameters outperforms the single photon-based quantum key distribution protocol. In addition, it is also observed that Silicon-APD (the avalanche photodiode) performs better than InGaAs/InP-APD when considering all the conditions.
We investigated the performance of differential phase shift quantum key distribution using InGaAs/InP and Silicon-APD (avalanche photo diode) for generating secure keys, secure communication distance, and bit error rates under the various operating conditions.We compare the quantum bit error rate and the secure key generation rate as a function of communication length.Our simulation results show that with frequency conversion at telecommunication wavelength the silicon-APD contributes in enhanced communication rates and higher communication distances than InGaAs/InP APD for optical fiber-based quantum key distribution applications.
Abstract In the current research work, an analysis of differential phase shift quantum key distribution using InGaAs/InP and Silicon-APD (avalanche photodiode) as single photon detectors is performed. Various performance parameters of interest such as shifted key rate, secure key rate, and secure communication distance obtained are investigated. In this optical fiber-based differential phase shift quantum key distribution, it is observed that Si-APD under frequency conversion method at telecommunication window outperforms the InGaAs/InP APD.
This paper gives experimental results of quantum key distribution on a fiber-optic setup at a telecom wavelength of 1555 nm. A self-compensated two-channel optical circuit is used. Quantum key distribution was performed by coding the phase states of single photons radiated by a pulsed semiconductor laser in two alternative nonorthogonal bases. Specially developed single photon counters based on InGaAs: InP avalanche photodiodes were employed as high-sensitivity photodetectors. The results of investigation of the quantum efficiency, probability of afterpulses, and noise level for various operating modes of the detectors at temperatures from −40 to −60°C are given. A key distribution rate of 450 bit/s was obtained for a single-mode fiber-optic quantum communication channel between the receiver and sender 25 km long at a laser pulse clock frequency of 5 MHz and an average number of photons per pulse of about 0.2. For the achieved photodetector characteristics, the average number of errors in the quantum key did not exceed 3.7%.
The current theoretical analysis model for high-dimensional quantum key distribution (QKD) was developed without carefully considering the dead time and after-pulse of the single-photon detectors. Here, we propose a new model that accounts for these two effects. With this model, we analyze the effects of various properties of the single-photon detector on the performance of the high-dimensional quantum key distribution and show numerically that the high-dimensional quantum key distribution can be achieved up to 180 km with InGaAs/InP-type single-photon detectors. This work can improve our understanding of the factors that determine the performance of high-dimensional quantum key distribution and will help to promote the application of single-photon detectors based on avalanche photodiodes in high-dimensional quantum key distribution.
We provide a direct comparison between the InGaAs avalanche photodiode (APD) and the NbN superconducting single photon detector (SSPD) for applications in fiber-based quantum cryptography. The quantum efficiency and dark count rate were measured for each detector, and used to calculate the quantum bit error rate (QBER) and shared key rate for a QKD link. The results indicate that, despite low quantum efficiency, the speed of the SSPD makes it a superior detector for quantum information applications. Finally, we present results of an initial integration of an SSPD into a receiver node of the DARPA quantum network to perform quantum key distribution. Encoding quantum information on single photons has enabled the realization of a number of unique communication schemes such as the implementation of the BB84 protocol for quantum key distribution 1 and quantum dense coding. 2 Furthermore, the implementation of these schemes using photons at telecommunication wavelengths has permitted their extension to fiber optic networks, 3,4 drastically increasing the practicality of quantum information processing. To date, the state of the art in commercially available single photon detection at telecommunication wavelengths (1550 nm) has been the thermo-electrically cooled InGaAs avalanche photodiode (APD). The cooled InGaAs APD is generally operated at T = -60°C in the reverse-biased Geiger mode. Though these detectors have been successfully implemented in operating QKD links in optical fiber, the InGaAs APD suffers from afterpulsing effects that limit the key exchange rates. New SPD (single photon detector) technologies based on superconducting materials are emerging that hold tremendous promise for drastically increasing the photon counting rate and eliminating dark noise.57 The SSPD consists of a NbN thin film (t ∼ 5 nm) patterned into a narrow (w ∼ 100 nm) microstrip meander that is ∼ 500μm in length. The detector is cooled to T < 4K in a closed cycle refrigeration unit and a bias current I b is supplied to the device just below the superconducting critical current (I c ). When a photon is incident upon the microstrip superconductivity is broken in the region local to photon absorption and a normal state region is formed in the device. The current passing through the device causes a measurable voltage pulse in the detector that can be amplified and shaped to act as an input for traditional logic circuitry. Due to the unique electronic bandstructure in a superconducting material the intrinsic response time of the device is on the order of picoseconds, so that the repetition rate may be increased above 1 GHz 8 without being susceptible to afterpulsing effects that plague the InGaAs APD. 9 To make a direct comparison between the InGaAs APD and the SSPD both were placed in a SPD characterization testbed to measure quantum efficiency and dark count rate at a variety of bias conditions. The QBER for a QKD link is calculated from the measured parameters and then compared to requirements for a provably secure QKD link. Following detector characterization, one of the nodes of the DARPA Quantum Network operated by BBN Technologies 3 utilized an SSPD in the receiver to transmit key material. The demonstration provides an in situ comparison between the InGaAs APD, normally operated in the BBN link, and the SSPD.