TAQNet: Traffic-Aware Minimum-Cost Quantum Communication Network Planning

Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a secure method to exchange encrypted information between two parties in a quantum communication infrastructure (QCI). The primary challenge in deploying a QCI is the cost of using optical fibers and trusted repeater nodes (TRNs). Practical systems combine quantum and classical channels on the same fiber to reduce the cost […]

FPGA-Based Synchronization of Frequency-Domain Interferometer for QKD

In this article, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel synchronization method for quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. The method consists of maximizing the visibility of frequency-domain interference of optical sidebands about an optical carrier at the receiver node. The sidebands are generated by phase modulation of the optical carrier by an radio-frequency (RF) signal […]

Variational Estimation of Optimal Signal States for Quantum Channels

This article explores the performance of quantum communication systems in the presence of noise and focuses on finding the optimal encoding for maximizing the classical communication rate, approaching the classical capacity in some scenarios. Instead of theoretically bounding the ultimate capacity of the channel, we adopt a signal processing perspective to estimate the achievable performance […]

Efficient Optimization of Cutoffs in Quantum Repeater Chains

Quantum communication enables the implementation of tasks that are unachievable with classical resources. However, losses on the communication channel preclude the direct long-distance transmission of quantum information in many relevant scenarios. In principle, quantum repeaters allow one to overcome losses. However, realistic hardware parameters make long-distance quantum communication a challenge in practice. For instance, in […]

Enhanced Uplink Quantum Communication With Satellites via Downlink Channels

In developing the global quantum Internet, quantum communication with low-earth-orbit satellites will play a pivotal role. Such communication will need to be two way: effective not only in the satellite-to-ground (downlink) channel but also in the ground-to-satellite channel (uplink). Given that losses on this latter channel are significantly larger relative to the former, techniques that […]