Quantum Communications Pulse Divider for Noisy Link QBER

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current quantum key distribution (QKD) systems face challenges with high quantum bit error rates (QBER) limits, making them difficult to implement in noisy or turbulent communication links, and requiring strict environmental conditions, which limits their applicability.

Innovation Solution

The quantum communications system employs a pulse divider at the transmitter node to generate temporally modulated photons and a pulse recombiner at the receiver node to detect phase binned states, effectively increasing the maximum QBER threshold by scrambling the data stream and reducing Eve's information, even when measuring in the correct basis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional QKD protocols are used, then security is maintained, but the system is difficult to implement in noisy or turbulent communication links due to high QBER limits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation in noisy linksVSAvoidQBER limit

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pulse division to segment each optical pulse into multiple temporal sub-pulses. This segmentation increases the QBER threshold by distributing the quantum information across multiple time bins, making the system more tolerant of noise and turbulence in the communication link while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If strict environmental conditions are imposed, then QBER is controlled, but the applicability of QKD is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability in different environmentsVSAvoidQBER control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temporal structure of the optical pulses by dividing them into multiple sub-pulses. This parameter change allows the system to tolerate higher QBER levels without requiring strict environmental conditions, thereby increasing adaptability to different operating environments while maintaining reliable quantum communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If pulse division is applied, then QBER threshold is increased, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveQBER thresholdVSAvoidpulse division apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a pulse divider as an intermediary component that divides each optical pulse into multiple temporal sub-pulses. This intermediary device enables the system to achieve higher QBER threshold without requiring fundamental changes to the core quantum communication protocol, thereby managing complexity through a dedicated functional module.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12212669B2Quantum communications system using pulse divider and associated methods

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 EAGLE TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

A quantum communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and a quantum communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The transmitter node may include a pulse transmitter and pulse divider downstream therefrom. The receiver node may include a pulse recombiner and a pulse receiver downstream therefrom.