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Discrete value QKD based on a three MUBs efficient KXB10 protocol using spatial light modes

Muhammad Kamran, Tahir Malik, Muhammad Mubashir Khan

Published Sep 24, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables the exchange of secret keys between two communicative parties. Compared to the simple two dimensional BB84 protocol , QKD protocols have progressively been developed to take advantage of higher dimension states. In this paper, we present performance analysis of a higher dimensional discrete value QKD protocols, the KXB10, over a free space optical channel with turbulence modeling. System performance results are presented in both the presence and absence of an eavesdropper. The performance is evaluated using the quantum bit error rate and index transmission error rate performance metrics. Results also show that an index transmission error rate value can be used to detect the presence of eavesdropper in the system. The results also show a significant improvement in system efficiency by using the higher dimensional KXB10.

DOI
10.21203/rs.3.rs-8983017/v1

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Abstract Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables the exchange of secret keys between two communicative parties. Compared to the simple two dimensional BB84 protocol , QKD protocols have progressively been developed to take advantage of higher dimension states. In this paper, we present performance analysis of a higher dimensional discrete value QKD protocols, the KXB10, over a free space optical channel with turbulence modeling. System performance results are presented in both the presence and absence of an eavesdropper. The performance is evaluated using the quantum bit error rate and index transmission error rate performance metrics. Results also show that an index transmission error rate value can be used to detect the presence of eavesdropper in the system. The results also show a significant improvement in system efficiency by using the higher dimensional KXB10.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the exciting applications of quantum mechanics. It allows the sharing of secret keys between two communicating parties with unconditional security. A variety of QKD protocols have been proposed since the inception of the BB84 protocol. Among different implementation techniques of QKD protocols, there is a category which exploits higher dimensions qubit states to encode classical bits. In this paper, we focus on such a QKD protocol called KXB10, which uses three bases with higher dimensions. Analysis of the generalized dimension quantum states is performed by evaluating it based on the index transmission error rate ITER. We find that there is a direct relationship between qubit dimensions and ITER for the KXB10 protocol.
Quantum key distribution(QKD) has emerged as a secure solution of secret key distribution utilizing the well established theories of modern physics. Since its introduction in 1984, many interesting and innovative ideas have been proposed for QKD in order to improve the security and efficiency of the scheme keeping in view of its applications and practicalimplementation. High error rate QKD scheme for long distance communication-theso-called KMB09 protocol is one such scheme which was designed to achieve longer communication distance in QKD, without compromising its security,by allowing the utilisation of higher dimensional photon states which is not possible with standard BB84 scheme. However the practical implementation of KMB09 protocol has not been presented yet because of its unique design. In this paper, we propose a framework for the practical implementation of QKD system that runs KMB09 protocol in two or more dimensions of photon states. We present the KMB09 based QKD system design and its simulation for practical implementation based on the encoding of secret bits in higher order Gaussian beam spatial modes. The proposed framework is specifically evaluated in terms of efficiency or success rate with two and four dimensions of photon states. We find that the simulation results of the proposed framework are inline with the numerical and analytical results of the same QKD model presented earlier.
Abstract In this paper, we analyze the performance of free-space optical quantum key distribution (FSO-QKD) using the BB84 protocol with BPSK modulation under realistic channel conditions. The Málaga distribution is employed to model the composite atmospheric turbulence, considering pointing errors. We derive closed-form expressions for the average quantum bit error rate (QBER) and the secure key rate (SKR), incorporating both turbulence and misalignment effects. Numerical results demonstrate the impact of turbulence parameters and beam misalignment on system performance. The findings provide insights for the robust design of FSO-QKD systems under practical deployment conditions.
Abstract In the last two decades, structured light patterns with orbital angular momentum (OAM) have been extensively utilized in quantum cryptography or quantum key distribution, which is generally considered an unconditionally secure method of secret key transmission between two distant communicating entities. High-dimensional encoding of quantum bits in quantum key distribution improves the security and information-carrying capability of a quantum signal. Significant degradation in the efficiency of such communication is observed due to the aberration of OAM states under atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, we focus on analyzing the impact of atmospheric turbulence on the error-rates of quantum key distribution, which is considered the benchmark in analyzing the security of such communication over the quantum channel in the presence of an intruder (man-in-the-middle). Our results show that turbulence under normal conditions does not significantly affect the successful transmission of secret quantum bits between sender and receiver. Furthermore, we identify an interesting variation in the signature of error-rates to clearly detect the presence of an intruder as a result of medium-level turbulence.
In this paper, a free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on BB84 protocol is studied assuming that the transmitted quantum bits are multiplexed spatially based on orthogonal orbital angular momentum (OAM) carrying beams. The performance of such a system is estimated in terms of quantum bit error rate, outage capacity, and effective data rate taking into account the impact of error correction and privacy amplification. Based on the simulation of OAM-carrying beam propagating through atmospheric channels impaired by turbulence, the crosstalk among the multiplexed channels are investigated and its effect on the performance of the QKD system is evaluated. The presented results provide insight into the efficient design of such multiplexed QKD systems particularly in terms of the choice of the optimal average photon number per pulse and the multiplexing mode set.
We devoted to analyzing information transfer in quantum channels in terms of the performance of quantum key distribution (QKD) free-space optical (FSO) communication systems through Bennett and Brassard 84 (BB84) protocol by taking into account the combined effect of attenuation, turbulence, pointing error, and angle of arrival (AOA) fluctuations. Path loss is modeled by Beer-Lambert law, and the turbulent channel is assumed to be Fisher-Snedecor F distributed. The pointing error and AOA fluctuations are modeled by Hoyt and Rayleigh distributions, respectively. The error and sift probabilities, quantum bit error rate, and secret key rate of a QKD FSO system are obtained in analytical form, and results are presented depending on various parameters. It is shown that increased beam waist, beam deviation, AOA fluctuations, and propagation distance cause performance degradation and less secure information transmission. However, an increase in the ratio of horizontal and vertical beam misalignments, field of view, average photon number per pulse, visibility of the atmospheric environment, and optical beam wavelength impact the performance of QKD FSO systems positively. The effect of the turbulence structure constant is observed to be modest on the performance of the QKD FSO system.