Pulse shape optimization against Doppler shifts and delays in optical quantum communication

authored by: Emanuel Schlake, Roy Barzel, Dennis Rätzel, Claus Lämmerzahl
Abstract: High relative velocities and large distances in space-based quantum communication with satellites in lower earth orbits can lead to significant Doppler shifts and delays of the signal impairing the achievable performance if uncorrected. We analyze the influence of systematic and stochastic Doppler shift and delay in the specific case of a continuous variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) protocol and identify the generalized correlation function, the ambiguity function, as a decisive measure of performance loss. Investigating the generalized correlations as well as private capacity bounds for specific choices of spectral amplitude shape (Gaussian, single- and double-sided Lorentzian), we find that this choice has a significant impact on the robustness of the quantum communication protocol to spectral and temporal synchronization errors. We conclude that optimizing the pulse shape can be a building block in the resilient design of quantum network infrastructure.
External Organisation(s): Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM)
Type: Article
Journal: EPJ Quantum Technology
Volume: 12
Publication date: 14.02.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Control and Systems Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00321-w (Access: Open)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00321-w (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@article{452ab2f05e374cd4b3795c1aee4be943,
title = "Pulse shape optimization against Doppler shifts and delays in optical quantum communication",
abstract = "High relative velocities and large distances in space-based quantum communication with satellites in lower earth orbits can lead to significant Doppler shifts and delays of the signal impairing the achievable performance if uncorrected. We analyze the influence of systematic and stochastic Doppler shift and delay in the specific case of a continuous variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) protocol and identify the generalized correlation function, the ambiguity function, as a decisive measure of performance loss. Investigating the generalized correlations as well as private capacity bounds for specific choices of spectral amplitude shape (Gaussian, single- and double-sided Lorentzian), we find that this choice has a significant impact on the robustness of the quantum communication protocol to spectral and temporal synchronization errors. We conclude that optimizing the pulse shape can be a building block in the resilient design of quantum network infrastructure.",
keywords = "Delay, Doppler shift, Quantum key distribution, Quantum technology, Satellite communication, Space-based quantum communication",
author = "Emanuel Schlake and Roy Barzel and Dennis R{\"a}tzel and Claus L{\"a}mmerzahl",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",
year = "2025",
month = feb,
day = "14",
doi = "10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00321-w",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
journal = "EPJ Quantum Technology",
issn = "2196-0763",
publisher = "SpringerOpen",
number = "1",
}