Daniel Sanchez-Rosales

arXiv2026

Drone- and Vehicle-Based Quantum Key Distribution

Quantum key distribution is a point-to-point communication protocol that leverages quantum mechanics to enable secure information exchange. Commonly, the transmitter and receiver stations are at fixed locations, and the single-photon quantum states are transmitted over fiber or free space. Here, we describe a modular, platform-agnostic, quantum key distribution transmitter and receiver with reduced size, weight, and power consumption to realize a mobile quantum communication system. We deploy the system on different moving platforms, demonstrating drone-to-drone, drone-to-vehicle, and vehicle-to-vehicle quantum communication, achieving secure key rates in the finite-key regime in the range of 1.6 - 20 kbps. To prove the security of the system, we develop advanced physics models of the devices that account for non-ideal behaviors that are of greater importance in mobile platforms. The modular system can be easily upgraded to include sources of entangled photonic quantum states, which will find application in future quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Realistic quantum network simulation for experimental BBM92 key distribution

Quantum key distribution (QKD) can provide secure key material between two parties without relying on assumptions about the computational power of an eavesdropper. QKD is performed over quantum links and quantum networks, systems which are resource-intensive to deploy and maintain. To evaluate and optimize performance prior to, during, and after deployment, accurate simulations with attention to physical realism are necessary. Quantum network simulators can simulate a variety of quantum and classical protocols and can assist in quantum network design and optimization by offering realism and flexibility beyond mathematical models which rely on simplifying assumptions and can be intractable to solve as network complexity increases. We use a versatile discrete event quantum network simulator to simulate the entanglement-based QKD protocol BBM92 and compare it to our experimental implementation and to existing theory. We find the discrete event quantum network simulator can match experimental key rates and error rates with a lower mean squared error than analytical theory. Furthermore, we simulate secure key rates in a repeater key distribution scenario for which no experimental implementations exist and find agreement between simulation and analytical theory. Hence, we demonstrate discrete event simulators can meet needs in quantum network simulations which cannot be filled solely by experiment or theory: discrete event simulators can accurately simulate QKD protocols and match experiments in regimes where theoretical models may require more simplifying assumptions, and they can match theoretical models in the opposite scenario where experiments have not yet been performed but theoretical models exist.

quant-ph↗