A post doctorate on the study of a integrated DV-QKD connection between governmental sites F/M on 12 months

Job description

about the role

Your role is to perform a post doc work on the study of a integrated DV-QKD connection between governmental sites. Telecommunications operators have an increasing need for security in their networks in order to face malicious intents and provide their customers with highly secure services (i.e. defense, banking, health, 4.0 industry…).

Encryption algorithm associated to more and more complex key exchange mechanisms are used to guarantee the security of transported data. However, the emergence of overpowered computers (quantum or others) could endanger the cryptographic algorithms used today. Moreover, some attack strategies consist in listening and registering the data flux today to decrypt them later.

As a consequence, finding technics allowing to detect intrusions and simultaneously raising the data flux security level will be a real improvement. It has been demonstrated in the 80s that quantum physics could fulfill those requirements. For instance, Bennett and Brassard introduced in1984 a cryptographic protocol (BB84) based on single photon polarization. Other protocols have been demonstrated using entangled photons. With the rise of optics communications networks, it has become obvious to use those quantum encryption technics to secure data optical transmission.

Among quantum cryptography technologies, one can cite quantum key distribution (QKD) based on discrete variables (DV) and using single photons sources and detectors, and protocols such as BB84. Another way to transmit quantum keys uses continuous variables (CV) based on sending coherent states into fibers and detected by sensors close to those used in the WDM transport system. In the framework of the European project H2020 OpenQKD in which Orange is a partner, it exist a complementary open call. Orange, in collaboration with Thales SIX GTS, Thales Alenia, KETS Quantum, and a public Orange customer have joined to answer this call. The goal is to deploy and study a quantum cryptography secured link between two governmental sites.

You will participate in implementing and studying DV-QKD protocol based on integrated optics Kets Quantum technology. This will be done on dark fiber or a customer fiber of a complete line (laser, optical fiber link,photo-detectors). You will evaluate the performances in different contexts : fibers with copropagation or dedicated fibers.

Scientific goals

·  Deployment of a functional DVQKD link on dark fiber
·  Field validation of Kets Quantum solution (distance, robustness, integration interface/API...)
·  Compliance with Orange deployed fibered infrastructure and equipment
·  Impact of encryption impacts on QKD performances.
·  Choice and study of protocols enhancing the link robustness (hybrid IPsec + QKD + post quantic algorithms)

Methodological approach - planning

·  Validation of Kets and Cryptonext solution in the lab (on fiber rolls + PC) (2 months)
·  Field deployment of the inter-site link (5 months)
·  Study and solution validation (5 months)

about you

Education : Phd in quantum communications

Experiences (intership, …) :

·  PhD thesis in experimental quantumcryptography,
·  Very good knowledge in signalprocessing and information theory
·  Very good knowledge of opticalcommunications
·  Good knowledge of quantum cryptography protocol
Skills (technical and sceintific) and personal qualities for the job :

The required skills are those corresponding to athorough initial formation in optics/fibered photonics and quantum communication (Master 2), followed by an experimental PhD Thesis in quantum communications.

·  Optically guided telecommunication systems
·  CV or DV quantum cryptography
·  Integrated optics and photonics
·  Quantum cryptography protocols (BB84, OTP) and classical cryptography.

The applicant will have to show autonomy, analytic abilities,initiative sense and love team work: contributions to a collaborative projectwith frequent discussions with Orange's expert on optical networks andcryptography (TSE).

He/She will also have to be able to communicate fluently internallyand externally. In the framework of this post-doc, the applicant will have toshow his/her creativity and critical thinking.

additional information

What is the offer's added value?

·  Contribution to a European project including main Telco operators, academic laboratories in quantum communication and QKD systems constructors.
·  Participation to the building of a new innovative service offer for Orange, in collaboration with OBS
·  Increase the skills and knowledge for operational QKD networks
·  Interact with world top-level scientists

State of theart :

There is an abundant literature on QKD since the beginning of 80s.Focusing on what is done today, ID Quantique in Switzerland offer a commercial DVQKD system for several years [1], actually implemented in several Swiss banks. Toshiba is developing a DVQKD prototype.They have conducted many field trials. Among the most emblematic ones, we cancite the one conducted by British Telecom, Toshiba, ADVA and the Cambridge University, connecting three sites that are tens of kilometer apart, with DVQKD systems. One can also cite the Chinese experiment MICIUS [2] that consists in sending quantum keys between two stations thousands of kilometer apart via a low orbit satellite.

All those proposals developed by constructors are cumbersome, based on proprietary systems, and costly (100k€ for a point to point link). For a telecommunication operator, a viable future for QKD considering cost, footprint or interface is the approach developed by Kets Quantum [3]. This Bristol University spin-off has developed a DVQKD system as GPU card [4], on standard computing interface (PCI Express),and with announced unitary cost of few k€.

References

1/ ID Quantique, « Cerberis QKD blade - The world first carrier-grade quantum key distribution platform », White Paper, 2018.

2/ Q. Zhang, F. Xu,Y-A. Chen, C-.Z. Peng, and J. Pan, « Large scale quantum key distribution: challenges and solutions », Optics Express, Vol. 26, No. 18, pp. 24260-24273, 3 Sep 2018

3/ InP transmitter and SiON receiver (world's first chip-to-chip QKD): Chip-based quantum key distribution. Nature Communications, Vol 8, Feb 2017.

4/ https://kets-quantum.com/quantum-key-distribution/

department

Within the Tehnology & Global Innovation division and the DATA-IA entity, the multidisciplinary team is constituted of research engineer specialized inoptical communications from Orange Labs Networks and co-supervising security engineer

from Orange Labs Networks, completed by a quantum physicist and the head of project within DATA-IA, with a physicist formation in optics/photonics, and experimental contributions in quantum optics published in reference peer-reviewed articles. All team members are contributors or head of WP on both European projects related to quantum communication where Orange is involved (CiViQ and OpenQKD). Work will be done on algorithmic part with interactions with researcher in cryptographyfrom TSE domain.

contract

Post Doc