Highly Sensitive Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry: Detecting 0.01 dB Leakage over 1000 km for Classical and Quantum Communication
Mikhail Yarovikov, Alexander Smirnov, Aziz Aliev, Daniel Strizhak · Sensors · 2025
Classical and quantum fiber-optic communication channels are vulnerable to possible intrusions. Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a physically fundamental and theoretically secure communication method, but the key rate decays over long distances. Recently proposed by our group, a quantum communication protocol based on the physical estimation of an eavesdropper's influence shows extreme efficiency even at distances of thousands of kilometers. In this paper, we investigate the physical limits of eavesdropper detection using optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) and demonstrate the successful detection of a 0.01 dB leakage over a distance of 1009 km.