Modeling Quantum Optical Components, Pulses and Fiber Channels Using OMNeT++

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

9-10-2015

Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an innovative technology which exploits the laws of quantum mechanics to generate and distribute unconditionally secure cryptographic keys. While QKD offers the promise of unconditionally secure key distribution, real world systems are built from non-ideal components which necessitates the need to model and understand the impact these non-idealities have on system performance and security. OMNeT++ has been used as a basis to develop a simulation framework to support this endeavor. This framework, referred to as "qkdX" extends OMNeT++'s module and message abstractions to efficiently model optical components, optical pulses, operating protocols and processes. This paper presents the design of this framework including how OMNeT++'s abstractions have been utilized to model quantum optical components, optical pulses, fiber and free space channels. Furthermore, from our toolbox of created components, we present various notional and real QKD systems, which have been studied and analyzed.

Comments

Published in: A. Förster, C. Minkenberg, G. R. Herrera, M. Kirsche (Eds.), Proc. of the 2nd OMNeT++ Community Summit, IBM Research - Zurich, Switzerland, September 3-4, 2015. https://summit.omnetpp.org/2015/

Funding note: This work was supported by the Laboratory for Telecommunication Sciences [grant number 5743400-304-6448] and in part by a grant of computer time from the DoD High Performance ComputingModernization Program at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Report no: OMNET/2015/04

Presentation slides available from Omnetpp.org

DOI

https://arxiv.org/abs/1509.03091

Source Publication

arXiv

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