Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution

Jasminder S. Sidhu; Thomas Brougham; Duncan McArthur; Roberto G. Pousa; Daniel K.L. Oi

doi:10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3

Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution

Jasminder S. Sidhu^*, Thomas Brougham, Duncan McArthur, Roberto G. Pousa, Daniel K.L. Oi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute Of Photonics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

38 Downloads (Pure)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	18
Journal	npj Quantum Information
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3
Publication status	Published - 16 Feb 2022

Funding

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. 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.

Keywords

quantum information
quantum optics
quantum communications
atellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD)

Access to Document

10.1038/s41534-022-00525-3Licence: CC BY 4.0

Sidhu-etal-nplQI-2022-Finite-key-effects-in-satellite-quantum-key-distributionFinal published version, 1.97 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

(ViSatQT) ISCF Airbus: Viable Satellite Free Space Optical Quantum Key Distribution Technologies (ViSatQT)
Oi, D. (Principal Investigator), McArthur, D. (Researcher) & Sidhu, J. (Researcher)
Innovate UK
1/11/20 → 31/10/21
Project: Research
The EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub
Oi, D. (Principal Investigator) & Sidhu, J. (Researcher)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/12/19 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
Satellite Quantum Key Distribution (SA Catapult Researchers in Residence)
Oi, D. (Principal Investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/04/19 → 31/12/23
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "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 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.",

keywords = "quantum information, quantum optics, quantum communications, atellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD)",

author = "Sidhu, \{Jasminder S.\} and Thomas Brougham and Duncan McArthur and Pousa, \{Roberto G.\} and Oi, \{Daniel K.L.\}",

note = "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: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

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AU - Sidhu, Jasminder S.

AU - Brougham, Thomas

AU - McArthur, Duncan

AU - Pousa, Roberto G.

AU - Oi, Daniel K.L.

N1 - 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).

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - quantum information

KW - quantum optics

KW - quantum communications

KW - atellite quantum key distribution (SatQKD)

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Finite key effects in satellite quantum key distribution

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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Projects

(ViSatQT) ISCF Airbus: Viable Satellite Free Space Optical Quantum Key Distribution Technologies (ViSatQT)

The EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub

Satellite Quantum Key Distribution (SA Catapult Researchers in Residence)

Cite this