Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution

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Sidhu, Jasminder S. and Brougham, Thomas and McArthur, Duncan and Pousa, Roberto G. and Oi, Daniel K.L. (2022) Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution. npj Quantum Information, 8 (1). 18. ISSN 2056-6387 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3)

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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.

ORCID iDs

Sidhu, Jasminder S. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6167-8224, Brougham, Thomas, McArthur, Duncan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8603-8349, Pousa, Roberto G. and Oi, Daniel K.L. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0965-9509;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:80149
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    16 February 2022
    Published
    15 December 2021
    Accepted
    Notes:Funding Information: We acknowledge support from the UK NQTP and the Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Communications (EPSRC Grant Ref: EP/T001011/1), the UK Space Agency (NSTP3-FT-063, NSTP3-FT2-065, NSIP ROKS Payload Flight Model), the Innovate UK project ReFQ (Project number: 78161), and QTSPACE (COST CA15220). D.O. is an EPSRC Researchers in Residence at the Satellite Applications Catapult (EPSRC Grant Ref: EP/T517288/1). D.O. and T.B. acknowledge support from the Innovate UK project AirQKD (Project number: 45364). D.O. and D.M. acknowledge support from the Innovate UK project ViSatQT (Project number: 43037). R.P. acknowledges support from the EPSRC Research Excellence Award (REA) Studentship. The authors thank J. Rarity, D. Lowndes, S. K. Joshi, E. Hastings, P. Zhang, and L. Mazzarella for insightful discussions. D.O. also acknowledges discussion with S. Mohapatra, Craft Prospect Ltd., and support from the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account. Funding Information: We acknowledge support from the UK NQTP and the Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Communications (EPSRC Grant Ref: EP/T001011/1), the UK Space Agency (NSTP3-FT-063, NSTP3-FT2-065, NSIP ROKS Payload Flight Model), the Innovate UK project ReFQ (Project number: 78161), and QTSPACE (COST CA15220). D.O. is an EPSRC Researchers in Residence at the Satellite Applications Catapult (EPSRC Grant Ref: EP/T517288/1). D.O. and T.B. acknowledge support from the Innovate UK project AirQKD (Project number: 45364). D.O. and D.M. acknowledge support from the Innovate UK project ViSatQT (Project number: 43037). R.P. acknowledges support from the EPSRC Research Excellence Award (REA) Studentship. The authors thank J. Rarity, D. Lowndes, S. K. Joshi, E. Hastings, P. Zhang, and L. Mazzarella for insightful discussions. D.O. also acknowledges discussion with S. Mohapatra, Craft Prospect Ltd., and support from the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).
    Subjects:Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics > Institute of Photonics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:11 Apr 2022 08:18
    Last modified:12 Dec 2024 13:00
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/80149
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