Dynamic DV-QKD Networking in Fully-Meshed Software-Defined Optical Networks

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a four-node, trusted-node-free quantum key distribution network with dynamic routing capabilities, exploring coexistence with classical channels in metropolitan optical networks and analyzing performance impacts.

Contribution

It introduces a novel fully-meshed, dynamic DV-QKD network architecture integrated with SDN control and experimentally investigates coexistence with classical channels over field-deployed fibers.

Findings

Quantum key rate drops 43% with one classical channel at 150 GHz spacing.

QBER exceeds 6% and SKR drops to zero at 7 dB launch power with multiple classical channels.

Coexistence with six classical channels is feasible but impacts quantum channel performance.

Abstract

We demonstrate for the first time a four-node trusted-node-free metro network configuration with dynamic discrete-variable quantum key distribution DV-QKD networking capabilities across four optical network nodes. The network allows the dynamic deployment of any QKD link between two nodes of the network, while a QKD-aware centralised software-defined networking (SDN) controller is utilised to provide dynamicity in switching and rerouting. The feasibility of coexisting a quantum channel with carrier-grade classical optical channels where both the quantum and classical channels are in the C-band over field-deployed metropolitan networks and laboratory-based fibres (<10km) is experimentally explored in terms of achievable quantum bit error rate, secret key rate as well as classical signal bit error rate. Moreover, coexistence analysis over multi-hops configuration using different switching scenarios is also presented. The secret key rate dropped 43% when coexisting one classical channel with 150 GHz spacing from the quantum channel for multiple links. This is due to the noise leakage from the Raman scattering into the 100 GHz bandwidth of the internal filter of the Bob DV-QKD unit. When coexisting four classical channels with 150 GHz spacing between the quantum and the nearest classical channel, the quantum channel deteriorates faster due to the combination of Raman noise, other nonlinearities and high aggregated launch power causing the QBER value to exceed the threshold of 6% leading the SKR to reach a value of zero bps at a launch power of 7 dB per channel. Furthermore, the coexistence of a quantum channel and six classical channels through a field-deployed fibre test network is examined.