QKD protected fiber-based infrastructure for time dissemination
Abstract In this study, we demonstrate the possibility to protect, with Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a critical infrastructure as the fiber-based one used for time and frequency (TF) dissemination service. The proposed technique allows to disseminate secure and precise TF signals between two fibe...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97480-8 |
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| Summary: | Abstract In this study, we demonstrate the possibility to protect, with Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a critical infrastructure as the fiber-based one used for time and frequency (TF) dissemination service. The proposed technique allows to disseminate secure and precise TF signals between two fiber-optic-connected locations, on a critical infrastructure, using both QKD and White Rabbit technique. This secure exchange enables the secret sharing of time information between two parties, allowing the synchronization of distant clocks with a stability of $$10^{-10}$$ at 1 s, traceable to the Italian time scale. When encrypted, the time signals provide no useful information to a third party regarding the synchronization status, resulting in a time stability degraded by two orders of magnitude. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |