Practical high-dimensional quantum key distribution protocol over deployed multicore fiber

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication scheme for sharing symmetric cryptographic keys based on the laws of quantum physics, and is considered a key player in the realm of cyber-security. A critical challenge for QKD systems comes from the fact that the ever-increasing rates at whi...

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Veröffentlicht in:Nature communications 2024-02, Vol.15 (1), p.1651-1651, Article 1651
Hauptverfasser: Zahidy, Mujtaba, Ribezzo, Domenico, De Lazzari, Claudia, Vagniluca, Ilaria, Biagi, Nicola, Müller, Ronny, Occhipinti, Tommaso, Oxenløwe, Leif K., Galili, Michael, Hayashi, Tetsuya, Cassioli, Dajana, Mecozzi, Antonio, Antonelli, Cristian, Zavatta, Alessandro, Bacco, Davide
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication scheme for sharing symmetric cryptographic keys based on the laws of quantum physics, and is considered a key player in the realm of cyber-security. A critical challenge for QKD systems comes from the fact that the ever-increasing rates at which digital data are transmitted require more and more performing sources of quantum keys, primarily in terms of secret key generation rate. High-dimensional QKD based on path encoding has been proposed as a candidate approach to address this challenge. However, while proof-of-principle demonstrations based on lab experiments have been reported in the literature, demonstrations in realistic environments are still missing. Here we report the generation of secret keys in a 4-dimensional hybrid time-path-encoded QKD system over a 52-km deployed multicore fiber link forming by looping back two cores of a 26-km 4-core optical fiber. Our results indicate that robust high-dimensional QKD can be implemented in a realistic environment by combining standard telecom equipment with emerging multicore fiber technology. High-dimensional QKD would in principle allow for several advantages over its bidimensional counterpart, but in-the-field demonstrations are missing. Here, the authors realise 4- dimensional hybrid time-path-encoded QKD using a 52-km deployed multicore fiber link.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-45876-x