Pirandola, Stefano orcid.org/0000-0001-6165-5615 (2021) Satellite Quantum Communications:Fundamental Bounds and Practical Security. Physical Review Research. 023130. ISSN 2643-1564
Abstract
Satellite quantum communications are emerging within the panorama of quantum technologies as a more effective strategy to distribute completely-secure keys at very long distances, therefore playing an important role in the architecture of a large-scale quantum network. In this work, we apply and extend recent results in free-space quantum communications to determine the ultimate limits at which secret (and entanglement) bits can be distributed via satellites. Our study is comprehensive of the various practical scenarios, encompassing both downlink and uplink configurations, with satellites at different altitudes and zenith angles. It includes effects of diffraction, extinction, background noise and fading, due to pointing errors and atmospheric turbulence (appropriately developed for slant distances). Besides identifying upper bounds, we also discuss lower bounds, i.e., achievable rates for key generation and entanglement distribution. In particular, we study the composable finite-size secret key rates that are achievable by protocols of continuous variable quantum key distribution, for both downlink and uplink, showing the feasibility of this approach for all configurations. Finally, we present a study with a sun-synchronous satellite, showing that its key distribution rate is able to outperform a ground chain of ideal quantum repeaters.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Main results: (1) Ultimate bounds for quantum communications with satellites (QKD/entanglement distribution); (2) Achievable secret-key rates with composable finite-size security, showing the feasibility of high-rate CV-QKD with a satellite in all configurations (downlink/uplink - night/day); (3) Comparison between a sun-synchronous satellite and a ground chain of quantum repeaters |
Keywords: | quant-ph,physics.ao-ph,physics.app-ph,physics.optics,physics.space-ph |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Computer Science (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 19 May 2021 14:50 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 17:31 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023130 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.023130 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:174369 |
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Filename: PhysRevResearch.3.023130.pdf
Description: Satellite quantum communications: Fundamental bounds and practical security
Licence: CC-BY 2.5