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Free-Space QKD with Modulating Retroreflectors Based on the B92 Protocol.

Minghao Zhu¹, Min Hu^1,2, Banghong Guo^1,3

¹Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Functional Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Engineering and Quantum Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)

|February 25, 2022

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This study enhances free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) using modulating retro-reflectors (MRR-QKD). The improved scheme simplifies optical structure and increases robustness for secure air-to-ground quantum communication networks.

Area of Science:

Quantum Information Science
Optical Engineering
Secure Communications

Background:

Free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) offers low channel loss and link flexibility for secure key sharing.
Modulating retro-reflectors (MRR-QKD) simplify mobile terminals, enabling applications like UAV-based quantum communication.
Existing MRR-QKD schemes face limitations due to complex optical structures and sensitivity to equipment imperfections.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose and analyze an improved free-space MRR-QKD scheme.
To enhance robustness against equipment imperfections like low modulator extinction ratio and optical misalignment.
To simplify the optical structure and reduce component count compared to previous work.

Main Methods:

Implementation of a novel scheme based on intensity modulation of two non-orthogonal states and the B92 protocol.

Keywords:

B92 protocol free-space modulating retroreflector quantum key distribution

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Analysis and simulation of the proposed scheme's performance.

Comparison with a previous MRR-QKD scheme (Optics Express 2018, 26, 11331).

Main Results:

The proposed scheme reduces the number of required quantum well modulators from eight to three.
The new scheme demonstrates similar performance to the previous one.
The improved scheme maintains operational capability despite low modulator extinction ratio or high optical misalignment, unlike the previous scheme.

Conclusions:

The enhanced MRR-QKD scheme offers a simplified optical structure and improved robustness.
This advancement is crucial for practical air-to-ground quantum communication and global quantum networks.
The scheme's resilience to imperfections makes it suitable for lightweight mobile platforms.