We foresee a future where lasers light up the sky to enable high-bandwidth and secure communications to every corner of the Earth. Thanks to the low divergence of laser beams, these optical/infrared signals are much harder to intercept and to jam in comparison to conventional radio communications. However, more security guarantees are needed. Therefore, in this project we invite you – as a candidate PhD – to join the research on physical layer security schemes for free space optical (FSO) channels. Join the information and communication theory lab (ICT Lab) on this exciting EU research project with prestigious institutes, observatories and companies throughout Europe.
Quantum key distribution over satellite networks is envisioned as part of the core infrastructure for future long-distance, resilient, secure communications. Though the optical losses in the free space optical channel are considerably less than in the fiber channel, for large distances, the secure key rates are still very limited. This means in practice that the number of keys, the length of the keys and the rate with which they can be refreshed is limited. To overcome this and enhance the security, in addition to quantum key distribution, classical (optical) key distribution can take place. The classical key distribution can be added – on top of the quantum key distribution – and inherits its security thanks to the low-divergence of laser beams and by exploiting physical optical channel properties and smart two-way handshakes.
As a PhD candidate, you are asked to perform research in this area and come up with innovative concepts. The research includes FSO channel modelling, performing secrecy/capacity analysis for this FSO channel, performing comparative analysis between various methods in terms of their performance, and devising novel physical layer security schemeswith the aim to enhance the security, enable higher secure key rates and longer-distance secure communications.
This position is part of the collaborative EU research project
LaiQa which develops key technologies for a global quantum Internet enabled from space. The consortium consists of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS, Greece), the applied research organization TNO (Netherlands), Quantum Technology Laboratories GmbH QTLABS (Austria), Quantum Space Systems GmbH QSSYS (Germany), the National Observatory of Athens (Greece), the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece), and Thales Alenia Space (Italia).