arXiv subjects

Vladimir Egorov

Publications and source records attributed to Vladimir Egorov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A theoretical study of subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution system integration with an optical transport network utilizing dense wavelength division multiplexing

In this paper we study the performance of subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution (SCW QKD) in the presence of classical channels of optical transport network utilizing dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). We consider the impact of spontaneous Raman scattering noise as well as the four-wave mixing and channel isolation efficiency. We calculate quantum bit error rate as well as the secure key generation rate of SCW-QKD protocol for different parameters of DWDM system and quantum channel allocations. Our calculations show, that quantum channel allocation at the wavelength of 1310 nm is preferable to allocation at C-band due to lower nonlinear noise, despite fiber's larger attenuation at this wavelength.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Performance of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution in the presence of spontaneous Raman scattering noise generated by classical DWDM channels

In this paper we study performance of the subcarrier-wave quantum key distribution system (SCW QKD) in the presence of spontaneous Raman scattering (SpRS) noise generated by classical channels of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) network within a single-mode optical fiber. We present the mathematical model for evaluation of the quantum bit error rate (QBER) and the secure key generation rate with the SpRS noise taken into account. We consider two regimes of the SCW QKD system: the continuous wave regime that uses continuous wave laser and the pulsed regime. For these regimes, performance of the system is analyzed depending on receiver sensitivity of classical DWDM. It is found that the pulsed regime outperforms the continuous wave regime in both the secure key generation rate and the maximum achievable distance.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Vulnerabilities of quantum key distribution systems in visible range

In this paper we investigate spectral vulnerabilities in quantum key distribution systems arising from the use of shorter-wavelength radiation in the 400-800 nm range, with particular focus on the induced photorefraction attack (IPA). Crucial elements influenced by IPA include various types of modulators, both phase and intensity modulators. In the following paper, we consider different scenarios and their implications. Through combined theoretical and experimental analysis, we demonstrate that optical components commonly used as countermeasures in the telecom band (1000-2100 nm) exhibit significantly reduced effectiveness at shorter wavelengths. The efficiency of IPA is shown to increase as the wavelength decreases, posing a substantial threat to phase-modulation-based QKD protocols. We analyze the impact of IPA across different QKD architectures and assess the feasibility of potential countermeasures under realistic implementation scenarios. Our results highlight the necessity of broadband security evaluations and wavelength-aware component design in future QKD systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Quantum repeater via entangled phase modulated multimode coherent states

We present a scheme of quantum repeater that uses entangled multimode coherent states which are obtained by electro-optic modulation of symmetric and antisymmetric Schrödinger cat states. In this method subcarrier modes of the phase modulated states generated by the remote parties are sent to a symmetric beam splitter at the central node. The entangled coherent states are heraldedly prepared by photon counting measurements at the output channels of the beam splitter. We study how the effects of decoherence in the quantum channel affect statistics of photocounts and corresponding fidelity. We show how the proposed scheme can be useful for extending range of quantum key distribution with sub carrier wave encoding by exploiting quantum teleportation with the generated entanglement.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Quantum key distribution component loopholes in 1500-2100 nm range perspective for Trojan-horse attacks

Vulnerabilities of components used in quantum key distribution (QKD) systems affect its implementation security and must be taken into consideration during system development and security analysis. In this paper, we investigated transmission of fiber optical elements, which are commonly used in QKD systems for designing countermeasures against Trojan-horse attacks, in 1500-2100 nm range. As a result, we found loopholes in their transmission spectra which open possibilities for eavesdropping. We also suggested a simple passive countermeasure based on violation of total internal reflection in single-mode fiber, that leads to additional insertion losses of at least 60 dB for double-pass Trojan-horse probe pulses for wavelengths longer than 1830 nm.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Theoretical analysis of quantum key distribution systems when integrated with a DWDM optical transport network

A theoretical research and numerical simulation of the noise influence caused by spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel crosstalk on the performance of QKD systems was conducted. Three types of QKD systems were considered: coherent one-way (COW) QKD protocol, subcarrier-wave (SCW) QKD system, and continuous-variable (CV) QKD integrated with classical DWDM channels. We calculate the secure key generation rate for the systems mentioned addressing different channel allocation schemes (i.e., configurations). A uniform DWDM grid is considered with quantum channel located in C-band and O-band (at 1310 nm) of a telecommunication window. The systems' performance is analyzed in terms of the maximal achievable distance values. Configurations for the further analysis and investigation are chosen optimally, i.e., their maximal achievable distances are the best.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Measurement-device-independent continuous variable quantum key distribution protocol operation in optical transport networks

Numerically, a theoretical analysis of the noise impact caused by spontaneous Raman scattering, four-wave mixing, and linear channel crosstalk on the measurement-device-independent continuous variable quantum key distribution systems is conducted. The analysis considers symmetry and asymmetry of system paths, as well as possible channel allocation schemes, for a quantum channel located in C- and O-bans. Mathematical models for MDI CV-QKD system and the contributing noises description are provided. The secure key generation rate is estimated to state features of protocol operation when integrated with existing DWDM systems in the context of its implementation into telecommunication networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Protecting fiber-optic quantum key distribution sources against light-injection attacks

A well-protected and characterised source in a quantum key distribution system is needed for its security. Unfortunately, the source is vulnerable to light-injection attacks, such as Trojan-horse, laser-seeding, and laser-damage attacks, in which an eavesdropper actively injects bright light to hack the source unit. The hacking laser could be a high-power one that can modify properties of components via the laser-damage attack and also further help the Trojan-horse and other light-injection attacks. Here we propose a countermeasure against the light-injection attacks, consisting of an additional sacrificial component placed at the exit of the source. This component should either withstand high-power incoming light while attenuating it to a safe level that cannot modify the rest of the source, or get destroyed into a permanent high-attenuation state that breaks up the line. We demonstrate experimentally that off-the-shelf fiber-optic isolators and circulators have these desired properties, at least under attack by a continuous-wave high-power laser.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution: security analysis with trusted hardware noise against general attacks

In this paper, using the full security framework for continuous variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD), we provide a composable security proof for the CV-QKD system in a realistic implementation. We take into account equipment losses and contributions from various components of excess noise and evaluate performance against collective and coherent attacks assuming trusted hardware noise. The calculation showed that the system remains operable at channel losses up to 10.2 dB in the presence of collective attacks and up to 7.5 dB in the presence of coherent ones.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Scalable Multi-Agent Model-Based Reinforcement Learning

Recent Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) literature has been largely focused on Centralized Training with Decentralized Execution (CTDE) paradigm. CTDE has been a dominant approach for both cooperative and mixed environments due to its capability to efficiently train decentralized policies. While in mixed environments full autonomy of the agents can be a desirable outcome, cooperative environments allow agents to share information to facilitate coordination. Approaches that leverage this technique are usually referred as communication methods, as full autonomy of agents is compromised for better performance. Although communication approaches have shown impressive results, they do not fully leverage this additional information during training phase. In this paper, we propose a new method called MAMBA which utilizes Model-Based Reinforcement Learning (MBRL) to further leverage centralized training in cooperative environments. We argue that communication between agents is enough to sustain a world model for each agent during execution phase while imaginary rollouts can be used for training, removing the necessity to interact with the environment. These properties yield sample efficient algorithm that can scale gracefully with the number of agents. We empirically confirm that MAMBA achieves good performance while reducing the number of interactions with the environment up to an orders of magnitude compared to Model-Free state-of-the-art approaches in challenging domains of SMAC and Flatland.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2022

Self-Imitation Learning from Demonstrations

Despite the numerous breakthroughs achieved with Reinforcement Learning (RL), solving environments with sparse rewards remains a challenging task that requires sophisticated exploration. Learning from Demonstrations (LfD) remedies this issue by guiding the agent's exploration towards states experienced by an expert. Naturally, the benefits of this approach hinge on the quality of demonstrations, which are rarely optimal in realistic scenarios. Modern LfD algorithms require meticulous tuning of hyperparameters that control the influence of demonstrations and, as we show in the paper, struggle with learning from suboptimal demonstrations. To address these issues, we extend Self-Imitation Learning (SIL), a recent RL algorithm that exploits the agent's past good experience, to the LfD setup by initializing its replay buffer with demonstrations. We denote our algorithm as SIL from Demonstrations (SILfD). We empirically show that SILfD can learn from demonstrations that are noisy or far from optimal and can automatically adjust the influence of demonstrations throughout the training without additional hyperparameters or handcrafted schedules. We also find SILfD superior to the existing state-of-the-art LfD algorithms in sparse environments, especially when demonstrations are highly suboptimal.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2021

An approach for security evaluation and certification of a complete quantum communication system

Although quantum communication systems are being deployed on a global scale, their realistic security certification is not yet available. Here we present a security evaluation and improvement protocol for complete quantum communication systems. The protocol subdivides a system by defining seven system implementation sub-layers based on a hierarchical order of information flow; then it categorises the known system implementation imperfections by hardness of protection and practical risk. Next, an initial analysis report lists all potential loopholes in its quantum-optical part. It is followed by interactions with the system manufacturer, testing and patching most loopholes, and re-assessing their status. Our protocol has been applied on multiple commercial quantum key distribution systems to improve their security. A detailed description of our methodology is presented with the example of a subcarrier-wave system. Our protocol is a step towards future security evaluation and security certification standards.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Flatland Competition 2020: MAPF and MARL for Efficient Train Coordination on a Grid World

The Flatland competition aimed at finding novel approaches to solve the vehicle re-scheduling problem (VRSP). The VRSP is concerned with scheduling trips in traffic networks and the re-scheduling of vehicles when disruptions occur, for example the breakdown of a vehicle. While solving the VRSP in various settings has been an active area in operations research (OR) for decades, the ever-growing complexity of modern railway networks makes dynamic real-time scheduling of traffic virtually impossible. Recently, multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) has successfully tackled challenging tasks where many agents need to be coordinated, such as multiplayer video games. However, the coordination of hundreds of agents in a real-life setting like a railway network remains challenging and the Flatland environment used for the competition models these real-world properties in a simplified manner. Submissions had to bring as many trains (agents) to their target stations in as little time as possible. While the best submissions were in the OR category, participants found many promising MARL approaches. Using both centralized and decentralized learning based approaches, top submissions used graph representations of the environment to construct tree-based observations. Further, different coordination mechanisms were implemented, such as communication and prioritization between agents. This paper presents the competition setup, four outstanding solutions to the competition, and a cross-comparison between them.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2021

Balancing Rational and Other-Regarding Preferences in Cooperative-Competitive Environments

Recent reinforcement learning studies extensively explore the interplay between cooperative and competitive behaviour in mixed environments. Unlike cooperative environments where agents strive towards a common goal, mixed environments are notorious for the conflicts of selfish and social interests. As a consequence, purely rational agents often struggle to achieve and maintain cooperation. A prevalent approach to induce cooperative behaviour is to assign additional rewards based on other agents' well-being. However, this approach suffers from the issue of multi-agent credit assignment, which can hinder performance. This issue is efficiently alleviated in cooperative setting with such state-of-the-art algorithms as QMIX and COMA. Still, when applied to mixed environments, these algorithms may result in unfair allocation of rewards. We propose BAROCCO, an extension of these algorithms capable to balance individual and social incentives. The mechanism behind BAROCCO is to train two distinct but interwoven components that jointly affect each agent's decisions. Our meta-algorithm is compatible with both Q-learning and Actor-Critic frameworks. We experimentally confirm the advantages over the existing methods and explore the behavioural aspects of BAROCCO in two mixed multi-agent setups.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2020

Coherent detection schemes for subcarrier wave continuous variable quantum key distribution

We examine different methods to implement coherent detection in the subcarrier wave quantum key distribution (SCW QKD) systems. For classical wavefields, we present the models describing homodyne-type and heterodyne-type coherent detection schemes needed to extract information from the quadrature phase-coded multimode signals used in SCW QKD. Practical feasibility of the proposed schemes is corroborated by the experiments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Laser damage attack against optical attenuators in quantum key distribution

Many quantum key distribution systems employ a laser followed by an optical attenuator to prepare weak coherent states in the source. Their mean photon number must be pre-calibrated to guarantee the security of key distribution. Here we experimentally show that this calibration can be broken with a high-power laser attack. We have tested four fiber-optic attenuator types used in quantum key distribution systems, and found that two of them exhibit a permanent decrease in attenuation after laser damage. This results in higher mean photon numbers in the prepared states and may allow an eavesdropper to compromise the key.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Subcarrier wave continuous variable quantum key distribution with discrete modulation: mathematical model and finite-key analysis

In this paper we report a continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol using multimode coherent states generated on subcarrier frequencies of the optical spectrum. To detect the quadrature components of bosonic field we propose a coherent detection scheme where power from a carrier wave is used as a local oscillator. We compose a mathematical model of the proposed scheme and perform its security analysis in the finite-size regime using fully quantum asymptotic equipartition property technique. We calculate a lower bound on the secret key rate for the system under the assumption that the quantum channel noise is negligible compared to detector dark counts, and an eavesdropper is restricted to collective attacks. Our calculation shows that the current realistic system implementation would allow distributing secret keys over channels with losses up to 9 dB.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Architected Porous Metals in Electrochemical Energy Storage

Porous metallic structures are regularly used in electrochemical energy storage devices as supports, current collectors or active electrode materials. Bulk metal porosification, dealloying, welding or chemical synthesis routes involving crystal growth or self-assembly for example, can sometimes provide limited control of porous length scale, ordering, periodicity, reproducibility, porosity and surface area. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing has shown the potential to revolutionize the fabrication of architected metals many forms, allowing complex geometries not usually possible by traditional methods, but enabling complete design freedom of a porous metal based on the required physical or chemical property to be exploited. We discuss properties of porous metal structures in EES devices and provide some opinions on how architected metals may alleviate issues with electrochemically active porous metal current collectors, and provide opportunities for optimum design based on electrochemical characteristics required by batteries, supercapacitors or other electrochemical devices.

physics.app-ph↗