Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution
Abstract Establishing secure communication links at a global scale is a major potential application of quantum information science but also extremely challenging for the underlying technology. Although milestone experiments using satellite-to-ground links and exploiting singe-photon encoding for imp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-01-01
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| Series: | npj Quantum Information |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-020-00336-4 |
| _version_ | 1818684134025854976 |
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| author | Daniele Dequal Luis Trigo Vidarte Victor Roman Rodriguez Giuseppe Vallone Paolo Villoresi Anthony Leverrier Eleni Diamanti |
| author_facet | Daniele Dequal Luis Trigo Vidarte Victor Roman Rodriguez Giuseppe Vallone Paolo Villoresi Anthony Leverrier Eleni Diamanti |
| author_sort | Daniele Dequal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Establishing secure communication links at a global scale is a major potential application of quantum information science but also extremely challenging for the underlying technology. Although milestone experiments using satellite-to-ground links and exploiting singe-photon encoding for implementing quantum key distribution have shown recently that this goal is achievable, it is still necessary to further investigate practical solutions compatible with classical optical communication systems. Here, we examine the feasibility of establishing secret keys in a satellite-to-ground downlink configuration using continuous-variable encoding, which can be implemented using standard telecommunication components certified for space environment and able to operate at high symbol rates. Considering a realistic channel model and state-of-the-art technology, and exploiting an orbit subdivision technique for mitigating fluctuations in the transmission efficiency, we find positive secret key rates for a low-Earth-orbit scenario, whereas finite-size effects can be a limiting factor for higher orbits. Our analysis determines regions of values for important experimental parameters where secret key exchange is possible and can be used as a guideline for experimental efforts in this direction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:45:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e48336060ae24e5ba14df1c950c78a6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-6387 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:45:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Quantum Information |
| spelling | doaj.art-e48336060ae24e5ba14df1c950c78a6f2022-12-21T21:52:08ZengNature Portfolionpj Quantum Information2056-63872021-01-017111010.1038/s41534-020-00336-4Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distributionDaniele Dequal0Luis Trigo Vidarte1Victor Roman Rodriguez2Giuseppe Vallone3Paolo Villoresi4Anthony Leverrier5Eleni Diamanti6Matera Laser Ranging Observatory, Agenzia Spaziale ItalianaSorbonne Université, CNRS, LIP6Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LIP6Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Universita degli Studi di PadovaDipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Universita degli Studi di PadovaInria ParisSorbonne Université, CNRS, LIP6Abstract Establishing secure communication links at a global scale is a major potential application of quantum information science but also extremely challenging for the underlying technology. Although milestone experiments using satellite-to-ground links and exploiting singe-photon encoding for implementing quantum key distribution have shown recently that this goal is achievable, it is still necessary to further investigate practical solutions compatible with classical optical communication systems. Here, we examine the feasibility of establishing secret keys in a satellite-to-ground downlink configuration using continuous-variable encoding, which can be implemented using standard telecommunication components certified for space environment and able to operate at high symbol rates. Considering a realistic channel model and state-of-the-art technology, and exploiting an orbit subdivision technique for mitigating fluctuations in the transmission efficiency, we find positive secret key rates for a low-Earth-orbit scenario, whereas finite-size effects can be a limiting factor for higher orbits. Our analysis determines regions of values for important experimental parameters where secret key exchange is possible and can be used as a guideline for experimental efforts in this direction.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-020-00336-4 |
| spellingShingle | Daniele Dequal Luis Trigo Vidarte Victor Roman Rodriguez Giuseppe Vallone Paolo Villoresi Anthony Leverrier Eleni Diamanti Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution npj Quantum Information |
| title | Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution |
| title_full | Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution |
| title_short | Feasibility of satellite-to-ground continuous-variable quantum key distribution |
| title_sort | feasibility of satellite to ground continuous variable quantum key distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-020-00336-4 |
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