Packet switching revolutionized the Internet by allowing the efficient use of network resources for data transmission. In a previous work, we introduced packet switching in quantum networks as a path to the Quantum Internet and presented a proof-of-concept for its application to quantum key distribution (QKD). In this paper, we outline a three-step approach for key rate optimization in a packet-switched network. Our simulated results show that practical key rates may be achieved in a sixteen-user network with no optical storage capacity. Under certain network conditions, we may improve the key rate by using an ultra-low-loss fiber delay line to store packets during network delays. We also find that implementing cut-off storage times in a strategy analogous to real-time selection in free-space QKD can significantly enhance performance. Our work demonstrates that packet switching is imminently suitable as a platform for QKD, an important step towards developing large-scale and integrated quantum networks.
@article{arxiv.2302.14005,
title = {Quantum key distribution in a packet-switched network},
author = {Reem Mandil and Stephen DiAdamo and Bing Qi and Alireza Shabani},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2302.14005},
year = {2023}
}