Communication System Performance Analysis of Satellite-to-Ground BB84 Quantum Key Distribution over Gamma–Gamma Turbulence Channels with Pointing Errors.
Sahil Bhardwaj¹, Vikas Sidhu
Abstract Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security for future communication networks by exploiting the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. However, satellite-to-ground QKD links suffer significant performance degradation due to atmospheric turbulence, absorption, scattering, and satellite-induced pointing errors. This paper investigates the BB84 QKD protocol over a Free-Space Optical (FSO) channel modeled using the Gamma–Gamma distribution, which accurately captures both small-scale and large-scale atmospheric irradiance fluctuations. Closed-form and numerical results for outage probability and Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) are presented under weak, moderate, and strong turbulence regimes. The Secure Key Rate (SKR) is analyzed as a function of link distance under clear and foggy weather conditions. Additionally, the impact of satellite vibration is evaluated using a jitter-dependent pointing error model, demonstrating that misalignment significantly reduces link reliability. Simulation results show that strong turbulence conditions introduce more than 15 dB SNR penalty compared to clear-sky operation, while haze conditions limit QKD range to under 8–10 km. These findings provide practical performance benchmarks for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) quantum downlinks in realistic atmospheric environments. The results provide practical insights for electronic receiver design and system implementation of satellite quantum communication links.
•Mar 5, 2026•0 citations