Quantum photonic network and physical layer security

Area of Science:

• Quantum Information Science
• Optical Communications
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Quantum communication offers enhanced transmission rates, while quantum cryptography provides data confidentiality.
• Existing schemes do not fully address the intermediate region between high transmission rates and robust security.
• Free space optical (FSO) wiretap channels present a scenario where an eavesdropper has limited physical access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a quantum photonic network scheme that bridges quantum communication and cryptography.
• To establish a theoretical framework for optimizing transmission efficiency and security under constraints.
• To experimentally characterize a terrestrial FSO wiretap channel for quantum information transfer.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing theoretical frameworks for quantifying the trade-off between transmission efficiency and security.
• Analyzing information-theoretically secure communication in FSO wiretap channels.
• Conducting channel characterization experiments using 10 MHz on-off keying in a 7.8 km FSO link.

Main Results:

• A theoretical framework was developed to balance transmission efficiency and security under power and finite code length constraints.
• Experimental data was collected for channel characterization in a terrestrial FSO wiretap channel.
• The study quantifies the optimal balance for secure communication in FSO environments.

Conclusions:

• The proposed quantum photonic network scheme shows potential for secure communication in FSO channels.
• Experimental validation provides insights into the practical implementation of secure quantum communication.
• This research contributes to advancing quantum technology for secure data transmission.