Satellite Communication Over Quantum Channel
- Paper number
IAC-06-B3.2.03
- Author
Mr. Laszlo Bacsardi, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Quantum computing offers revolutionary solutions in the field of computer science, applying the opportunities of quantum physics which are incomparably richer than those of classical physics. Although quantum computers are going to be the tools of the far future, there exist already algorithms to solve problems which are very difficult to handle with traditional computers. Satellite communication has been used for many years, and nowadays we know its limits.
We need a communication channel between the sender and the receiver. Perhaps the simplest example of a structure of a quantum system is a quantum channel. Typically, one is interested in some basis for the Hilbert space representing the input of a channel, which is entangled with a second Hilbert space representing the environment, and then another (possibly the same) basis for the first space at a later time.
Free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) - over an optical path of about 30 cm - was first introduced in 1991, and recent advances have led to demonstrations. Indeed there are certain key distribution problems in this category for which free-space QKD would have definite practical advantages (for example, it is impractical to send a courier to a satellite).
Quantum computing algorithms can be used to affirm our communication in several ways (open-air communication, satellite communications, satellite broadcast). We set up a free-space quantum-channel-model at the university, and made several simulations. The model was set up in the following three ways:
- Distance-independent model (infinite channel with a source and a drain)
- Linear model (linear parameter for noise)
- Fractional distances model (different items have their own noise-parameters)
This paper is a theoretical study to compare the simulation results of the three models. The work that we began in 2003 has a new simulator-environment and new results in simulating free-space quantum channels.
Hopefully in the next ten years quantum communication will appear in more technologies as actually, and the hopeful success in free-space quantum channel experiments can result development in satellite communication.
References:
- Practical free-space quantum key distribution over 10 km in daylight and at night, Richard J Hughes, Jane E Nordholt, Derek Derkacs and Charles G Peterson (New Journal of Physics 4 (2002) 43.1–43.14 )
- Quantum Cryptography: Public Key Distribution and Coin Tossing Bennett, C.H. and Brassard, G., Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Computers, Systems and Signal Processing. IEEE, New York. pp. 175-179 (1984)
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B3.2.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.