https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-025-00305-w
Research
A reconfigurable entanglement distribution network suitable for connecting multiple ground nodes with a satellite
1
Institute for Quantum Computing and Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
2
Currently with the National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, K1A 0R6, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3
Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr W, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Received:
16
September
2024
Accepted:
2
January
2025
Published online:
22
January
2025
Satellite-based quantum communication channels are important for ultra-long distances. Given the short duration of a satellite pass, it can be challenging to efficiently connect multiple users of a city-wide network while the satellite is passing over that area. We propose a network with dual-functionality: during a brief satellite pass, the ground network is configured as a multipoint-to-point topology where all ground nodes establish entanglement with a satellite receiver. During times when this satellite is not available, the satellite up-link is rerouted via a single optical switch to the ground nodes, and the network is configured as a pair-wise ground network. We numerically simulate a pulsed hyper-entangled photon source and study the performance of the proposed network configurations for quantum key distribution. We find favourable scaling in the case that the satellite receiver exploits time-multiplexing whereas the ground nodes utilize frequency-multiplexing. The scalability, simple reconfigurability, and easy integration with fibre networks make this architecture a promising candidate for quantum communication of many ground nodes and a satellite, an important step towards interconnection of ground nodes at a global scale.
Key words: Quantum networks / Quantum communication / Quantum key distribution / Satellite-based quantum information
© The Author(s) 2025
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