Architecture for reconfigurable quantum key distribution networks based on entangled photons directed by a wavelength selective switch
A system and method for securing communications between a plurality of users communicating over an optical network. The system utilizes a fixed or tunable source optical generator to generate entangled photon pairs, distribute the photons and establish a key exchange between users. The distribution of entangled photon pairs is implemented via at least one wavelength selective switch.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a first plurality of photons beginning at a scheduled connection time and continuing for a scheduled duration, each photon of the first plurality of photons comprising one photon of a pair of entangled photons, each pair of entangled photons having a shared source frequency that is a middle band of a frequency band of a wavelength selective switch through which the first plurality of photons is transmitted;
generating an encryption key based on the first plurality of photons; and
encrypting a message using the encryption key to generate an encrypted message capable of decryption using a decryption key generated based on a second plurality of photons, each photon of the second plurality of photons comprising a respective other photon of the pair of entangled photons.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the encrypted message to a recipient.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recipient is associated with the second plurality of photons.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of photons has one of a vertical polarization and a horizontal polarization.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the generating the encryption key is based on a polarization of each of the plurality of photons.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scheduled connection time and scheduled duration allow a number of endpoints to receive a plurality of photons when the number of endpoints exceeds a number of wavelength channels for transmission of the plurality of photons.
7. A method comprising:
receiving a first plurality of photons beginning at a scheduled connection time and continuing for a scheduled duration, each photon of the first plurality of photons comprising one photon of a pair of entangled photons, each pair of entangled photons having a shared source frequency that is a middle band of a frequency band of a wavelength selective switch through which the first plurality of photons is transmitted;
generating a decryption key based on the first plurality of photons; and
decrypting an encrypted message to generate a decrypted message, the encrypted message encrypted using an encryption key based on a second plurality of photons, each photon of the second plurality of photons comprising a respective other photon of the pair of entangled photons.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving the encrypted message from a sender.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sender is associated with the second plurality of photons.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the first plurality of photons has one of a vertical polarization and a horizontal polarization.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the generating the decryption key is based on a polarization of each of the first plurality of photons.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the scheduled connection time and scheduled duration allow a number of endpoints to receive a plurality of photons when the number of endpoints exceeds a number of wavelength channels for transmission of the plurality of photons.