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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 58: Quantum Communication II: Implementations (joint session QI/Q)
Q 58.5: Talk
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 15:30–15:45, HS IX
QUBE-II: Compact and economical satellite-based quantum key distribution — •Joost Vermeer for the QUBE-II collaboration — Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany — Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL), Staudtstr. 2, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
The range of fiber-based quantum key distribution (QKD) systems is limited by the fiber’s attenuation. To overcome this limit, several projects have been started in the past decade to develop satellite-based QKD systems. The cost of these systems is for a large part determined by the size, weight and power of the satellite.
Built upon predecessor mission QUBE, the goal of the QUBE-II mission is to use a small 8U CubeSat (10 × 20 × 40 cm3) to perform QKD between the CubeSat and a ground station. Two integrated QKD transmitters implement polarization- and phase-encoded versions of the BB84 decoy protocol. Random optical quantum states are generated using a photonic integrated onboard quantum random number generator and transmitted to the ground station using an 80 mm optical telescope. For post-processing the same optical path is used to establish a bidirectional classical data link.
In this work, we will present the nominal operations of the QUBE-II mission. We will discuss the requirements needed for a successful QKD link and a secure quantum key, the effect hardware limitations have on the requirements and the effect these requirements have on the hardware design.
Keywords: Quantum Key Distribution; CubeSat; Satellite QKD