Channel analysis of free-space quantum key distribution with untrusted node

Wei Li; Yu Li; LinLin Jin; XiaoGang Xie; Chen Dong

doi:10.1117/12.2524767

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10 May 2019 Channel analysis of free-space quantum key distribution with untrusted node

Wei Li, Yu Li, LinLin Jin, XiaoGang Xie, Chen Dong

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Proceedings Volume 11068, Second Symposium on Novel Technology of X-Ray Imaging; 110682Q (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2524767
Event: Second Symposium on Novel Technology of X-Ray Imaging, 2018, Hefei, China

Abstract

Various optical quantum key distribution protocols have been proposed and examined to implement a global quantum communication system both in fiber-based network and in free-space systems. Employing a satellite as a quantum relay is a possible solution to increase the secure covered distance, which is available for sharing secure keys between two remote ground stations. In this paper, combining with the idea of measurement device independent quantum key distribution, a modified free-space quantum communication protocol is proposed to build a QKD network with untrusted nodes, where the parties on the ground send quantum signals to the untrusted satellite relay that perform a joint measurement on the incoming signals. Our results demonstrate that though the modified protocol suffers higher link attentuation than the entanglement-based quantum communication protocol owing to higher effects of atmospheric turbulence for uplink, our modified protocol provides secure quantum communications with untrusted relays. Furthermore, the complex and non-space-qualified sources remain on the ground in our scheme , which makes our scheme more practical for bridging a seamless connection form ground to space.

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Wei Li, Yu Li, LinLin Jin, XiaoGang Xie, and Chen Dong "Channel analysis of free-space quantum key distribution with untrusted node", Proc. SPIE 11068, Second Symposium on Novel Technology of X-Ray Imaging, 110682Q (10 May 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2524767

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