A Survey of OAM-Encoded High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution: Foundations, Experiments, and Recent Trends

2025-12-12

AI Summary

OAM-encoded high-dimensional quantum key distribution (HD-QKD) faces critical engineering bottlenecks in state preparation, channel distortion, and mode detection. To address these challenges, this work presents a systematic review of the principles, experimental progress, and fundamental limitations of OAM-based HD-QKD. It introduces, for the first time, an integrated framework unifying hybrid encoding schemes, high-fidelity OAM mode sorting, adaptive optics–based channel compensation, and OAM-adapted protocols—including twin-field (TF-), continuous-variable (CV-), measurement-device-independent (MDI-), and device-independent (DI-) QKD. The proposed methodology synergizes vortex beam engineering, mode-resolved imaging, and co-designed discrete- and continuous-variable strategies to rigorously characterize key performance boundaries. This work establishes a practical, implementation-ready pathway—backed by comprehensive analysis—for enhancing channel robustness and enabling real-world deployment of HD-QKD systems operating beyond 100 dimensions.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Distributed CSP/Optimization

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: LLM based quality controls for crowd work

Abstract

High-dimensional quantum key distribution (HD-QKD) enhances information efficiency and noise tolerance by encoding data in large Hilbert spaces. The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light provides a scalable basis for such encoding and supports high-dimensional photonic communication. Practical OAM-based implementations remain constrained by challenges in state generation, transmission, and detection. This survey offers a consolidated overview of OAM-encoded HD-QKD, outlining fundamental principles, representative experiments, and system-level limitations. Recent progress in hybrid encodings, mode sorting, adaptive optics, and TF, CV, MDI, and DI frameworks is summarized with emphasis on practical feasibility.

Problem

• Enhances quantum key distribution with high-dimensional encoding
• Overcomes challenges in OAM state generation and detection
• Summarizes recent advances in hybrid encodings and practical frameworks

Innovation

• OAM-encoded high-dimensional quantum key distribution
• Hybrid encodings and mode sorting techniques
• Adaptive optics and advanced detection frameworks