Quantum key distribution for security guarantees over quantum-repeater-based QoS-driven 3D satellite networks

In recent years, quantum-based techniques have attracted significant research attention because of its unique advantages on satellite communications, especially for security problem. Security guarantee is one of the most important requirements in QoS-driven 3D satellite networks. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a methodology for generating and distributing random encryption keys using the principles of quantum physics, which enables two distant communications parties to securely communicate in a way that cannot be eavesdropped on without being detected. Although the QKD method can ensure the absolute security transmission over 3D satellite networks, it imposes many new implementation challenges due to the various limitations on quantum communication over long distances via 3D free space, including quantum channel attenuation, photon-state disruption and vulnerability to noise/interference, laser-beam widening, and constrained security-key generation rate. These problems get even more challenging when QoS provisioning is required for the applications over the 3D satellite networks. To overcome the aforementioned difficulties, we propose the framework to efficiently implement the QKD for security guarantees over quantum-repeater-based QoS-driven 3D satellite networks. First, we develop the quantum-repeater-based QKD satellite network architecture. Then, we design the quantum repeater including the purification scheduling algorithm and the optimal QoS-based repeating-router selection scheme in quantum-repeater-based QKD satellite networks. Finally, the obtained simulations evaluation validate and evaluate our proposed algorithms and schemes.