Optical Satellite Communications for Quantum Networking

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Quantum Photonics and Technologies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2024 | Viewed by 1577

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Photonics Communications Research Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9 Str., Zografou, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: quantum key distribution systems; deployment-oriented QKD integration; integrated photonics for QIP applications; converged fiber/wireless networks for 5G and beyond
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Photonics Communications Research Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9 Str., Zografou, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: optical communication systems; FSO; wireless and satellite communication networks; integrated photonics for communication applications; QKD systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The space segment of quantum communications infrastructure aims to interconnect the terrestrial-fiber-based infrastructures developed across the Earth. Toward this ambitious global-scale infrastructure, satellite constellations which orbit at different attitudes (LEO/MEO/GEO) will be undertaken to exchange quantum key resources with optical ground stations.

This new mission for the space ecosystem in the quantum era requires the mobilization of research groups and synergies between classical and quantum optical communication scientists and engineers, working together toward the development of practical building blocks and network segments. Building upon the legacy of laser communications in space, quantum blocks and networks will leverage advances in prototypes and product developments of adaptive optics and subsystems based on optical integration and advanced packaging methods, including the new generation of single-photon detection systems, advancements in satellite and optical ground station infrastructure, and advanced simulation tools for satellite quantum link modeling.  

This Special Issue of Photonics, entitled “Optical Satellite Communications for Quantum Networking”, welcomes articles addressing, among others, the design and development path of a practical quantum satellite infrastructure. Theoretical design studies, numerical, and experimental papers are within the scope of the Special Issue, but review articles will also be considered. We expect to cover a variety of topics, including the following:

  • Design and feasibility studies on satellite-to-ground wireless FSO links;
  • Channel modeling for satellite QKD systems;
  • Quantum communications in a turbulent medium;
  • DV- and CV-QKD protocols integration in long-haul satellite links;
  • Space-to-ground entanglement distribution systems;
  • Next-generation satellite quantum payloads; quantum repeaters in space;  
  • Novel adaptive optics techniques for robust wireless quantum links;
  • Design and architectures of large-scale satellite networks;
  • Novel designs of optical ground stations, detection concepts, and portable OGS; 
  • Technologies and networks for inter-satellite QKD links;
  • Synergies and co-design of terrestrial and satellite links;
  • Technologies for inter-satellite QKD links;
  • Earth monitoring and sensing applications via quantum space technologies;
  • Fundamental physics tests using quantum technologies in space.

Dr. Giannis Giannoulis
Dr. Nikolaos K. Lyras
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • satellite QKD
  • space-to-ground entanglement distribution
  • DV- and CV-QKD protocols
  • channel modeling
  • turbulent medium
  • FSO
  • adaptive optics
  • optical ground station

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 1234 KiB  
Article
A Best-Path Approach to the Design of a Hybrid Space–Ground Quantum Network with Dynamic Constraints
by David L. Bakker, Yannick Jong, Bob P. F. Dirks and Gustavo C. Amaral
Photonics 2024, 11(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11030268 - 18 Mar 2024
Viewed by 828
Abstract
The design and operation of quantum networks are both decisive in the current push towards a global quantum internet. Although space-enabled quantum connectivity has already been identified as a beneficial candidate for long-range quantum channels for over two decades, the architecture of a [...] Read more.
The design and operation of quantum networks are both decisive in the current push towards a global quantum internet. Although space-enabled quantum connectivity has already been identified as a beneficial candidate for long-range quantum channels for over two decades, the architecture of a hybrid space–ground network is still a work in progress. Here, we propose an analysis of such a network based on a best-path approach, where either fiber- or satellite-based elementary links can be concatenated to form a repeater chain. The network consisting of quantum information processing nodes, equipped with both ground and space connections, is mapped into a graph structure, where edge weights represent the achievable secret key rates, chosen as the figure of merit for the network analysis. A weight minimization algorithm allows for identifying the best path dynamically, i.e., as the weather conditions, stray light radiance, and satellite orbital position change. From the results, we conclude that satellite links will play a significant role in the future large-scale quantum internet, in particular when node distances exceed 500 km, and both a constellation of satellites—spanning 20 or more satellites—and significant advances in filtering technology are required to achieve continuous coverage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Satellite Communications for Quantum Networking)
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