Review of Clock Synchronization in Quantum Communications
Nur Shahirah Azahari, Nur Ziadah Harun, Chuah Chai Wen, Sofia Najwa Ramli, Zuriati Ahmad Zukarnain · 2024
Industrial networks are frequently utilized for safety-critical applications that demand real-time requirements. Message scheduling or timestamp is typically a key component of such applications, which are typically time-triggered. Timestamps at each party in quantum communication must be synchronized or share a common understanding of time for secure communication. Clock synchronization is thus a key component of real-time networks. Despite the benefits of time synchronization, enforcing clock synchronization on behalf of several quantum channel parties and preventing attacks from an adversary is still tricky. This paper identifies a possible attack on time synchronization and a way to solve the aforementioned issues. Therefore, we need a protocol that establishes a secure environment in terms of security with time synchronization so that various parties may freely and openly communicate. This paper also addresses significant research gaps in time synchronization and how it might be realized and applied to quantum communication. These include recommendations for new directions to be taken based on existing protocols.