Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution
Abstract Global quantum communications will enable long-distance secure data transfer, networked distributed quantum information processing, and other entanglement-enabled technologies. Satellite quantum communication overcomes optical fibre range limitations, with the first realisations of satellit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-02-01
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| Series: | npj Quantum Information |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3 |
| _version_ | 1819279491630891008 |
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| author | Jasminder S. Sidhu Thomas Brougham Duncan McArthur Roberto G. Pousa Daniel K. L. Oi |
| author_facet | Jasminder S. Sidhu Thomas Brougham Duncan McArthur Roberto G. Pousa Daniel K. L. Oi |
| author_sort | Jasminder S. Sidhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Global quantum communications will enable long-distance secure data transfer, networked distributed quantum information processing, and other entanglement-enabled technologies. Satellite quantum communication overcomes optical fibre range limitations, with the first realisations of satellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD) being rapidly developed. However, limited transmission times between satellite and ground station severely constrains the amount of secret key due to finite-block size effects. Here, we analyse these effects and the implications for system design and operation, utilising published results from the Micius satellite to construct an empirically-derived channel and system model for a trusted-node downlink employing efficient Bennett-Brassard 1984 (BB84) weak coherent pulse decoy states with optimised parameters. We quantify practical SatQKD performance limits and examine the effects of link efficiency, background light, source quality, and overpass geometries to estimate long-term key generation capacity. Our results may guide design and analysis of future missions, and establish performance benchmarks for both sources and detectors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:28:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd99947cab7644249ff56c08a6bd35eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-6387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:28:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Quantum Information |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd99947cab7644249ff56c08a6bd35eb2022-12-21T17:24:20ZengNature Portfolionpj Quantum Information2056-63872022-02-018111110.1038/s41534-022-00525-3Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distributionJasminder S. Sidhu0Thomas Brougham1Duncan McArthur2Roberto G. Pousa3Daniel K. L. Oi4SUPA Department of Physics, University of StrathclydeSUPA Department of Physics, University of StrathclydeSUPA Department of Physics, University of StrathclydeSUPA Department of Physics, University of StrathclydeSUPA Department of Physics, University of StrathclydeAbstract Global quantum communications will enable long-distance secure data transfer, networked distributed quantum information processing, and other entanglement-enabled technologies. Satellite quantum communication overcomes optical fibre range limitations, with the first realisations of satellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD) being rapidly developed. However, limited transmission times between satellite and ground station severely constrains the amount of secret key due to finite-block size effects. Here, we analyse these effects and the implications for system design and operation, utilising published results from the Micius satellite to construct an empirically-derived channel and system model for a trusted-node downlink employing efficient Bennett-Brassard 1984 (BB84) weak coherent pulse decoy states with optimised parameters. We quantify practical SatQKD performance limits and examine the effects of link efficiency, background light, source quality, and overpass geometries to estimate long-term key generation capacity. Our results may guide design and analysis of future missions, and establish performance benchmarks for both sources and detectors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3 |
| spellingShingle | Jasminder S. Sidhu Thomas Brougham Duncan McArthur Roberto G. Pousa Daniel K. L. Oi Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution npj Quantum Information |
| title | Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution |
| title_full | Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution |
| title_fullStr | Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution |
| title_short | Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution |
| title_sort | finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3 |
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