Field-Trial of Machine Learning-Assisted Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Networking with SDN

TL;DR

This paper presents a pioneering field trial demonstrating how machine learning and SDN can enable coexistence and secure key distribution between quantum and classical communication channels over real-world city and campus networks.

Contribution

It introduces a novel machine learning approach integrated with SDN to facilitate quantum key distribution in practical network environments.

Findings

Successful coexistence of quantum and classical channels in real networks

Effective machine learning assistance in quantum key distribution

SDN-enabled control of quantum communication over city-scale networks

Abstract

We demonstrated, for the first time, a machine-learning method to assist the coexistence between quantum and classical communication channels. Software-defined networking was used to successfully enable the key generation and transmission over a city and campus network.