Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design
Abstract Satellites are the most efficient way to achieve global scale quantum communication (Q.Com) because unavoidable losses restrict fiber based Q.Com to a few hundred kilometers. We demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a Q.Com uplink with a 3U CubeSat, measuring only 10 × 10 × 34 cm3, us...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2018-04-01
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| Series: | EPJ Quantum Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-018-0068-1 |
| _version_ | 1818147329682702336 |
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| author | Sebastian Philipp Neumann Siddarth Koduru Joshi Matthias Fink Thomas Scheidl Roland Blach Carsten Scharlemann Sameh Abouagaga Daanish Bambery Erik Kerstel Mathieu Barthelemy Rupert Ursin |
| author_facet | Sebastian Philipp Neumann Siddarth Koduru Joshi Matthias Fink Thomas Scheidl Roland Blach Carsten Scharlemann Sameh Abouagaga Daanish Bambery Erik Kerstel Mathieu Barthelemy Rupert Ursin |
| author_sort | Sebastian Philipp Neumann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Satellites are the most efficient way to achieve global scale quantum communication (Q.Com) because unavoidable losses restrict fiber based Q.Com to a few hundred kilometers. We demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a Q.Com uplink with a 3U CubeSat, measuring only 10 × 10 × 34 cm3, using commercial off-the-shelf components, the majority of which have space heritage. We demonstrate how to leverage the latest advancements in nano-satellite body-pointing to show that our 4 kg CubeSat can generate a quantum-secure key, which has so far only been shown by a much larger 600 kg satellite mission. A comprehensive link budget and simulation was performed to calculate the secure key rates. We discuss design choices and trade-offs to maximize the key rate while minimizing the cost and development needed. Our detailed design and feasibility study can be readily used as a template for global scale Q.Com. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:33:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54aff16b66c74d818ffd94dba76fa337 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-0763 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:33:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EPJ Quantum Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-54aff16b66c74d818ffd94dba76fa3372022-12-22T01:07:11ZengSpringerOpenEPJ Quantum Technology2196-07632018-04-015112410.1140/epjqt/s40507-018-0068-1Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & designSebastian Philipp Neumann0Siddarth Koduru Joshi1Matthias Fink2Thomas Scheidl3Roland Blach4Carsten Scharlemann5Sameh Abouagaga6Daanish Bambery7Erik Kerstel8Mathieu Barthelemy9Rupert Ursin10Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information ViennaInstitute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information ViennaInstitute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information ViennaInstitute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information ViennaInstitute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information ViennaUniversity of Applied Sciences Wiener NeustadtUniversity of Applied Sciences Wiener NeustadtUniversity of Applied Sciences Wiener NeustadtLaboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, University Grenoble AlpesLaboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, University Grenoble AlpesInstitute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information ViennaAbstract Satellites are the most efficient way to achieve global scale quantum communication (Q.Com) because unavoidable losses restrict fiber based Q.Com to a few hundred kilometers. We demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a Q.Com uplink with a 3U CubeSat, measuring only 10 × 10 × 34 cm3, using commercial off-the-shelf components, the majority of which have space heritage. We demonstrate how to leverage the latest advancements in nano-satellite body-pointing to show that our 4 kg CubeSat can generate a quantum-secure key, which has so far only been shown by a much larger 600 kg satellite mission. A comprehensive link budget and simulation was performed to calculate the secure key rates. We discuss design choices and trade-offs to maximize the key rate while minimizing the cost and development needed. Our detailed design and feasibility study can be readily used as a template for global scale Q.Com.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-018-0068-1Quantum communicationCubeSatQuantum Key DistributionFeasibility studySatellite technologyQuantum optics |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian Philipp Neumann Siddarth Koduru Joshi Matthias Fink Thomas Scheidl Roland Blach Carsten Scharlemann Sameh Abouagaga Daanish Bambery Erik Kerstel Mathieu Barthelemy Rupert Ursin Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design EPJ Quantum Technology Quantum communication CubeSat Quantum Key Distribution Feasibility study Satellite technology Quantum optics |
| title | Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design |
| title_full | Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design |
| title_fullStr | Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design |
| title_short | Q3Sat: quantum communications uplink to a 3U CubeSat—feasibility & design |
| title_sort | q3sat quantum communications uplink to a 3u cubesat feasibility design |
| topic | Quantum communication CubeSat Quantum Key Distribution Feasibility study Satellite technology Quantum optics |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-018-0068-1 |
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