Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Time Synchronization in Satellite Quantum Key Distribution

  • METHODS OF SIGNAL PROCESSING
  • Published:
Problems of Information Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Time synchronization is one of the most crucial issues that must be addressed in developing quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. It not only lets the transmitter and the receiver to assign a sequence number to each event and then do correct basis reconciliation, but also allows to increase signal-to-noise ratio. Time synchronization in satellite communications is especially complicated due to such factors as high loss, signal fading, and Doppler effect. In this work, a simple, efficient, and robust algorithm for time synchronization is proposed. It was tested during experiments on QKD between Micius, the world’s first quantum communications satellite, and an optical ground station located in Russia. The obtained synchronization precision lies in the range from 467 to 497 ps. The authors compare their algorithm for time synchronization with the previously used methods. The proposed approach can also be applied to terrestrial QKD systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.

References

  1. Bennett, C.H. and Brassard, G., Quantum Cryptography: Public Key Distribution and Coin Tossing, in Proc. Int. Conf. of Computers, Systems & Signal Processing, Bangalore, India, Dec. 9–12, 1984, vol. 1, pp. 175–179.

  2. Bennett, C.H., Bessette, F., Brassard, G., Salvail, L., and Smolin, J., Experimental Quantum Cryptography, J. Cryptol., 1992, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 3–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Schmitt-Manderbach, T., Weier, H., Furst, M., Ursin, R., Tiefenbacher, F., Scheidl, T., Perdigues, J., Sodnik, Z., Kurtsiefer, C., Rarity, J.G., Zeilinger, A., and Weinfurter, H., Experimental Demonstration of Free-Space Decoy-State Quantum Key Distribution over 144 km, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2007, vol. 98, no. 1, p. 010504 (4 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.010504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Liu, Y., Zhang, W.-J., Jiang, C., Chen, J.-P., Zhang, C., Pan, W.-X., Ma, D., Dong, H., Xiong, J.-M., Zhang, C.-J., Li, H., Wang, R.-C., Wu, J., Chen, T.-Y., You, L., Wang, X.-B., Zhang, Q., and Pan, J.-W., Experimental Twin-Field Quantum Key Distribution over 1000 km Fiber Distance, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2023, vol. 130, no. 21, p. 210801 (6 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.210801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liao, S.-K., Cai, W.-Q., Liu, W.-Y., Zhang, L., Li, Y., Ren, J.-G., Yin, J., Shen, Q., Cao, Y., Li, Z.-P., Li, F.-Z., Chen, X.-W., Sun, L.-H., Jia, J.-J., Wu, J.-C., Jiang, X.-J., Wang, J.-F., Huang, Y.-M., Wang, Q., Zhou, Y.-L., Deng, L., Xi, T., Ma, L., Hu, T., Zhang, Q., Chen, Y.-A., Liu, N.-L., Wang, X.-B., Zhu, Z.-C., Lu, C.-Y., Shu, R., Peng, C.-Z., Wang, J.-Y., and Pan, J.-W., Satellite-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution, Nature, 2017, vol. 549, no. 7670, pp. 43–47. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature23655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Liao, S.-K., Cai, W.-Q., Handsteiner, J., Liu, B, Yin, J., Zhang, L., Rauch, D., Fink, M., Ren, J.-G., Liu, W.-Y., Li, Y., Shen, Q., Cao, Y., Li, F.-Z., Wang, J.-F., Huang, Y.-M., Deng, L., Xi, T., Ma, L., Hu, T., Li, L., Liu, N.-L., Koidl, F., Wang, P., Chen, Y.-A., Wang, X.-B., Steindorfer, M., Kirchner, G., Lu, C.-Y., Shu, R., Ursin, R., Scheidl, T., Peng, C.-Z., Wang, J.-Y., Zeilinger, A., and Pan, J.-W., Satellite-Relayed Intercontinental Quantum Network, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2018, vol. 120, no. 3, p. 030501 (4 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.030501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen, Y.-A., Zhang, Q., Chen, T.-Y., Cai, W.-Q., Liao, S.-K., Zhang, J., Chen, K., Yin, J., Ren, J.-G., Chen, Z., Han, S.-L., Yu, Q., Liang, K., Zhou, F., Yuan, X., Zhao, M.-S., Wang, T.-Y., Jiang, X., Zhang, L., Liu, W.-Y., Li, Y., Shen, Q., Cao, Y., Lu, C.-Y., Shu, R., Wang, J.-Y., Li, L., Liu, N.-L., Xu, F., Wang, X.-B., Peng, C.-Z., and Pan, J.-W., An Integrated Space-to-Ground Quantum Communication Network over 4,600 Kilometres, Nature, 2021, vol. 589, no. 7841, pp. 214–219. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03093-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Yin, J., Cao, Y., Li, Y.-H., Liao, S.-K., Zhang, L., Ren, J.-G., Cai, W.-Q., Liu, W.-Y., Li, B., Dai, H., Li, G.-B., Lu, Q.-M., Gong, Y.-H., Xu, Y., Li, S.-L., Li, F.-Z., Yin, Y.-Y., Jiang, Z.-Q., Li, M., Jia, J.-J., Ren, G., He, D., Zhou, Y.-L., Zhang, X.-X., Wang, N., Chang, X., Zhu, Z.-C., Liu, N.-L., Chen, Y.-A., Lu, C.-Y., Shu, R., Peng, C.-Z., Wang, J.-Y., and Pan, J.-W., Satellite-Based Entanglement Distribution over 1200 Kilometers, Science, 2017, vol. 356, no. 6343, pp. 1140–1144. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan3211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Yin, J., Li, Y.-H., Liao, S.-K., Yang, M., Cao, Y., Zhang, L., Ren, J.-G., Cai, W.-Q., Liu, W.-Y., Li, S.-L., Shu, R., Huang, Y.-M., Deng, L., Li, L., Zhang, Q., Liu, N.-L., Chen, Y.-A., Lu, C.-Y., Wang, X.-B., Xu, F., Wang, J.-Y., Peng, C.-Z., Ekert, A.K., and Pan, J.-W., Entanglement-Based Secure Quantum Cryptography over 1,120 Kilometres, Nature, 2020, vol. 582, no. 7813, pp. 501–505. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2401-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ren, J.-G., Xu, P., Yong, H.-L., Zhang, L., Liao, S.-K., Yin, J., Liu, W.-Y., Cai, W.-Q., Yang, M., Li, L., Yang, K.-X., Han, X., Yao, Y.-Q., Li, J., Wu, H.-Y., Wan, S., Liu, L., Liu, D.-Q., Kuang, Y.-W., He, Z.-P., Shang, P., Guo, C., Zheng, R.-H., Tian, K., Zhu, Z.-C., Liu, N.-L., Lu, C.-Y., Shu, R., Chen, Y.-A., Peng, C.-Z., Wang, J.-Y., and Pan, J.-W., Ground-to-Satellite Quantum Teleportation, Nature, 2017, vol. 549, no. 7670, pp. 70–73. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature23675

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Beveratos, A., Brouri, R., Gacoin, T., Villing, A., Poizat, J.-P., and Grangier, P., Single Photon Quantum Cryptography, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2002, vol. 89, no. 18, p. 187901 (4 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.187901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Stucki, D., Gisin, N., Guinnard, O., Ribordy, G., and Zbinden, H., Quantum Key Distribution over 67 km with a Plug&Play System, New J. Phys., 2002, vol. 4, p. 41 (8 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/4/1/341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sasaki, M., Fujiwara, M., Ishizuka, H., Klaus, W., Wakui, K., Takeoka, M., Miki, S., Yamashita, T., Wang, Z., Tanaka, A., Yoshino, K., Nambu, Y., Takahashi, S., Tajima, A., Tomita, A., Domeki, T., Hasegawa, T., Sakai, Y., Kobayashi, H., Asai, T., Shimizu, K., Tokura, T., Tsurumaru, T., Matsui, M., Honjo, T., Tamaki, K., Takesue, H., Tokura, Y., Dynes, J.F., Dixon, A.R., Sharpe, A.W., Yuan, Z.L., Shields, A.J., Uchikoga, S., Legre, M., Robyr, S., Trinkler, P., Monat, L., Page, J.-B., Ribordy, G., Poppe, A., Allacher, A., Maurhart, O., Langer, T., Peev, M., and Zeilinger, A., Field Test of Quantum Key Distribution in the Tokyo QKD Network, Opt. Express, 2011, vol. 19, no. 11, pp. 10387–10409. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.19.010387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang, S., Chen, W., Yin, Z.-Q., Li, H.-W., He, D.-Y., Li, Y.-H., Zhou, Z., Song, X.-T., Li, F.-Y., Wang, D., Chen, H., Han, Y.-G., Huang, J.-Z., Guo, J.-F., Hao, P.-L., Li, M., Zhang, C.-M., Liu, D., Liang, W.-Y., Miao, C.-H., Wu, P., Guo, G.-C., and Han, Z.-F., Field and Long-Term Demonstration of a Wide Area Quantum Key Distribution Network, Opt. Express, 2014, vol. 22, no. 18, pp. 21739–21756. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.22.021739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang, C., Li, Y., Cai, W., Yang, M., Liu, W., Liao, S., and Peng, C., Robust Aperiodic Synchronous Scheme for Satellite-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution, Appl. Opt., 2021, vol. 60, no. 16, pp. 4787–4792. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.425085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Shakhovoy, R., Puplauskis, M., Sharoglazova, V., Maksimova, E., Hydyrova, S., Kurochkin, V., and Duplinskiy, A., Wavelength- and Time-Division Multiplexing via Pump Current Variation of a Pulsed Semiconductor Laser—A Method of Synchronization for Quantum Key Distribution, IEEE J. Quantum Electron., 2023, vol. 59, no. 1, Article No. 8000110 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.2023.3237265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Calderaro, L., Stanco, A., Agnesi, C., Avesani, M., Dequal, D., Villoresi, P., and Vallone, G., Fast and Simple Qubit-Based Synchronization for Quantum Key Distribution, Phys. Rev. Appl., 2020, vol. 13, no. 5, p. 054041 (9 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.13.054041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang, C.-Z., Li, Y., Cai, W.-Q., Liu, W.-Y., Liao, S.-K., and Peng, C.-Z., Synchronization Using Quantum Photons for Satellite-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution, Opt. Express, 2021, vol. 29, no. 19, pp. 29595–29603. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.433631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Takenaka, H., Carrasco-Casado, A., Fujiwara, M., Kitamura, M., Sasaki, M., and Toyoshima, M., Satellite-to-Ground Quantum-Limited Communication Using a 50-kg-Class Microsatellite, Nat. Photon., 2017, vol. 11, pp. 502–508. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2017.107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Lu, C.-Y., Cao, Y., Peng, C.-Z., and Pan, J.-W., Micius Quantum Experiments in Space, Rev. Mod. Phys., 2022, vol. 94, no. 3, p. 035001 (46 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.94.035001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Khmelev, A.V., Duplinskiy, A.V., Maiboroda, V.F., Bakhshaliev, R.M., Balanov, M.Yu., Kurochkin, V.L., and Kurochkin, Yu.V., Recording of a Single-Photon Signal from Low-Flying Satellites for Satellite Quantum Key Distribution, Pisma v ZhTF, 2021, vol. 17, pp. 46–49 [Tech. Phys. Lett. (Engl. Transl.), 2021, vol. 47, no. 12, pp. 858–861]. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063785021090078

    Google Scholar 

  22. Khmelev, A.V., Duplinsky, A.V., Kurochkin, V.L., and Kurochkin, Y.V., Stellar Calibration of the Single-Photon Receiver for Satellite-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser., 2021, vol. 2086, no. 1, p. 012137 (5 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2086/1/012137

    Google Scholar 

  23. Khmelev, A.V., Ivchenko, E.I., Miller, A.V., Duplinsky, A.V., Kurochkin, V.L., and Kurochkin, Yu.V., Semi-Empirical Satellite-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution Model for Realistic Receivers, Entropy, 2023, vol. 25, no. 4, p. 670 (14 pp.), https://doi.org/10.3390/e25040670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Miller, A.V., Pismeniuk, L.V., Duplinsky, A.V., Merzlinkin V.E., Plukchi A.A., Tikhonova K.A., Nesterov I.S., Sevryukov D.O., Levashov S.D., Fetisov V.V., Krasnopejev S.V., and Bakhshaliev R.M., Vector—Towards Quantum Key Distribution with Small Satellites, EPJ Quantum Technol., 2023, vol. 10, Article No. 52 (20 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00208-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wu, Q.-L., Han, Z.-F., Miao, E.-L., Liu, Y., Dai, Y.-M., and Guo, G.-C., Synchronization of Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution, Opt. Commun., 2007, vol. 275, no. 2, pp. 486–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2007.03.068

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to the University of Science and Technology of China and QSpace Technologies for providing data obtained during their joint experiments. The author especially thanks Dr. Chao-Ze Wang from USTC for his help in processing the experimental data.

Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moscow Centre for Quantum Technologies, Moscow, Russia

    A. V. Miller

Authors
  1. A. V. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Ethics declarations

The author of this work declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note. Pleiades Publishing remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miller, A.V. Time Synchronization in Satellite Quantum Key Distribution. Probl Inf Transm 59, 225–238 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0032946023040026

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0032946023040026

Keywords

Search

Navigation