Cost-Optimization-Based Quantum Key Distribution over Quantum Key Pool Optical Networks

• Published in: Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 25; no. 4; p. 661
• Main Authors: Jia, Jie, Dong, Bowen, Kang, Le, Xie, Huanwen, Guo, Banghong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 14.04.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analysis; Computer architecture; Cost analysis; cost optimization; Economic aspects; Fiber optic networks; Heuristic; Heuristic methods; measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution; Optical communication; optical networks; Optimization; Performance evaluation; Quantum cryptography; quantum key pool; Simulation methods; Transmitters; trusted and untrusted relay; cost optimization; trusted and untrusted relay; optical networks; measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution; quantum key pool
• ISSN: 1099-4300; 1099-4300
• DOI: 10.3390/e25040661

The Measurement-Device-Independent-Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD) has the advantage of extending the secure transmission distances. The MDI-QKD combined with the Hybrid-Trusted and Untrusted Relay (HTUR) is used to deploy large-scale QKD networks, which effectively saves deployment cost. We propose an improved scheme for the QKD network architecture and cost analysis, which simplifies the number of QKD transmitters and incorporates the quantum key pool (QKP) in the QKD network. We developed a novel Hybrid-QKD-Network-Cost (HQNC) heuristic algorithm to solve the cost optimization problem. Simulations verified that the scheme in this paper could save the cost by over 50 percent and 90 percent, respectively.