Chip-integrated quantum signature network over 200 km

Yongqiang Du ¹, Bing-Hong Li ², Xin Hua ³

¹Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
²National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
³National Information Optoelectronics Innovation Center (NOEIC), Wuhan, 430074, China.
⁴Guangxi Key Laboratory of Multimedia Communications and Network Technology, School of Computer, Electronics, and Information, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
⁵National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China. hlyin@ruc.edu.cn.
⁶Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Functional Materials and Micro-nano Devices, Key Laboratory of Quantum State Construction and Manipulation (Ministry of Education), Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China. hlyin@ruc.edu.cn.
⁷National Information Optoelectronics Innovation Center (NOEIC), Wuhan, 430074, China. xxiao@wri.com.cn.
⁸Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China. xxiao@wri.com.cn.
⁹Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China. kjwei@gxu.edu.cn.

⁰Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.

Light, Science & Applications +

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March 4, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This study introduces a chip-based quantum digital signature (QDS) network, making secure communications more accessible. The novel system uses integrated chips for practical, large-scale deployment in quantum networks.

Area Of Science

Quantum Information Science
Network Security
Integrated Photonics

Background

Quantum digital signatures (QDS) provide information-theoretic security for data integrity, authenticity, and non-repudiation.
Existing QDS systems are limited by expensive, bulky optical equipment, hindering scalability and network reconfiguration.

Purpose Of The Study

To develop and verify a practical, chip-based quantum digital signature network.
To reduce the cost and complexity of QDS systems for widespread adoption.

Main Methods

Developed a chip-based QDS network architecture with a central relay for complex measurement devices and low-cost user transmitters.
Implemented a three-node network using integrated encoder and decoder chips.
Utilized a 1-decoy-state one-time universal hashing-QDS protocol.

Main Results

Demonstrated a functional chip-based QDS network over 200 km fiber distances.
Achieved a maximum signature rate of 0.0414 signatures per second for 1 Mbit messages.
Exceeded the performance of previous state-of-the-art QDS experiments.

Conclusions

Validated the feasibility of chip-based QDS networks.
Paved the way for large-scale deployment and integration of QDS into existing fiber infrastructure.
Enabled more accessible and secure quantum communication solutions.

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