Secret key distillation over satellite-to-satellite free-space optics channel with a limited-sized aperture eavesdropper in the same plane of the legitimate receiver

TL;DR

This paper analyzes secret key distillation over satellite-to-satellite free-space optical channels, considering a realistic limited-sized eavesdropper, and provides bounds on secret key rates with practical protocol comparisons.

Contribution

It introduces a realistic eavesdropper model for satellite quantum communication and derives secret key rate bounds under various conditions, including protocol comparisons.

Findings

Higher SKR lower bounds with limited Eve compared to unrestricted Eve

Analytical expressions for SKR bounds as transmission distance approaches infinity

Optimization of input power based on transmission parameters

Abstract

Conventionally, unconditional information security has been studied by quantum cryptography although the assumption of an omnipotent eavesdropper is too strict for some realistic implementations. In this paper, we study the realistic secret key distillation over a satellite-to-satellite free space optics channel where we assume a limited-sized aperture eavesdropper (Eve) in the same plane of the legitimate receiver (Bob) and determine the secret key rate lower bounds correspondingly. We first study the input power dependency without assumptions on Bob's detection scheme before optimizing the input power to determine lower bounds as functions of transmission distances, center frequency or Eve aperture radius. Then we calculate analytical expressions regarding the SKR lower bound and upper bound as transmission distance goes to infinity. We also incorporate specific discrete variable (DV) and continuous variable (CV) protocols for comparison. We demonstrate that significantly higher SKR lower bounds can be achieved compared to traditional unrestricted Eve scenario.