Subject A : QKD network control technology
157A-T03QKD technology for mission critical applications
NEC Corporation (Akio Tajima)
To establish secure photonic network using QKD technology, the basic performance enhancement and stability improvement of QKD system are necessary. Also an interfacing function to enlarge applicable area of the secure photonic network will be needed for crypto-key sharing among multiple user terminals. To achieve above purposes, we set following four subthemes.
- Subtheme 1: Stabilization technique
- For stable crypto-key generation, free from variations in ambient temperature and electric power supply, automatic recovery scheme against performance change is necessary. Adequate supervisory control and secure active feedback schemes will be established.
- Subtheme 2: Enhancing application platform
- Applying keys shared through QKD needs special care to preserve security. Application platform needs dedicated security, especially authentication, in distributing and installing shared key.
- Subtheme 3: Next generation quantum key distribution system technology
- Higher key generation rate will be achieved by multiplexing quantum channels, and by using higher performance error correction and photon detection technologies. System downsizing will also be achieved by optimizing circuitry design and functions of QKD system.
- Subtheme 4: Long-term operational testing
- Using stabilized QKD system developed through subtheme A-1, long-term key generation will be tested under practical conditions for quality guarantee of the QKD network. Data disclosure system will be developed, and part of transmission performance with environmental parameters will be available soon here.
Fig. 1Four subthemes QKD technology for mission critical applications.
In May 2013 maintenance-free quantum key distribution for 30 days with QBER < 2.0% was achieved through a filed fiber (22 km, 13 dB) and we applied the system to NICT Tokyo QKD Network. Based on above established technologies, we develop compact demo systems. We will rent the system to potential user in order to get feed back or will apply it to Tokyo QKD network as a redundant link.
Final results for Team 157A-T03
| Task title | Outcome | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1: Stabilization technique | Maintenance-free quantum key distribution for 30 days with QBER < 2.0% was achieved through a filed fiber (22 km, 13 dB). | May 2013 | Optics Express, vol. 21, Issue 25 (2013) | Establish stabilization technique of WDM QKD system and confirmed good performance. (see A-4) | Jan. 2016 |
| 2: Enhancing application platform | An application platform architecture was proposed. Based on above architecture, Key supply agent was developed in team 157D-T01. |
Mar. 2013 | |
| 3: Next generation quantum key distribution system technology | A compact demo system (1λ) using newly designed smaller photon detector packages (ATCA 2-slot size) was developed. | Mar. 2014 | |
| Optical asymmetric bases selection method was proposed and key distillation efficiency was improved. | Dec. 2016 | ||
| 4: Long-term operational testing | Consecutive stable quantum key distribution for 21 weeks with average secure key rate of 107.7 kbps ± 8.6% (SD) under the practical environmental condition was demonstrated. 9-times field experiments were carried out. | Jan. 2016 | AQIS2016 Th. pp. 6, |
Fig. 2Outcome as for interim result by Team 157A-T03
Fig. 3Outcome as for final result by Team 157A-T03
To establish secure photonic network using QKD technology, the basic performances enhancement and stability improvement of QKD system were achieved.
We will make effort to expand and diffuse the development of finding through ImPACT (FY2014-2018) project.