READ ME File For 'Short-block Polar Coding Based CV-QKD Reconciliation'

Dataset DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/01/D024

ReadMe Author: Dingzhao Wang, University of Southampton
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6504-7385

This dataset supports the thesis entitled
"Short-block Polar Coding Based CV-QKD Reconciliation"
AWARDED BY: University of Southampton
DATE OF AWARD: 2026

Date of data collection: 2022–2026

Information about geographic location of data collection:
Computational simulations performed at the University of Southampton, UK.
No physical data collection was involved.

Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY)

Related projects/Funders: None


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DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
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This dataset contains simulation result figures (in EPS format)
supporting the third research contribution in the thesis (Chapter 5):
THz-band simultaneous quantum and classical communication (SQCC)
with IR-HARQ under Rician fading.

File list:
- k10_HARQ_SKR.eps : SKR performance with IR-HARQ (K=10)
- k10_harq_BLER.eps : BLER performance with IR-HARQ (K=10)
- k10_SKR_HARQ_oneshot.eps : One-shot SKR with HARQ (K=10)
- HARQ.eps : IR-HARQ protocol performance overview
- k10_SKR_oneshot.eps : One-shot SKR baseline (K=10)
- k0_k10_compare.eps : Performance comparison across K-factors (K=0, K=10)
- k0_SKR_HARQ_oneshot.eps : One-shot SKR with HARQ (K=0)
- k0_k10_SKR_oneshot.eps : SKR comparison across K-factors

Relationship between files, if important for context:
Files prefixed with "k0" and "k10" correspond to Rician K-factor
values of 0 (Rayleigh/NLoS) and 10 (strong LoS), respectively.
Files containing "HARQ" relate to IR-HARQ aided protocols. Files
containing "oneshot" refer to one-shot (non-HARQ) baseline results.

Additional related data collected that was not included in the current
data package: Simulation data for Papers 1 and 2 (Chapters 3 and 4)
were not deposited as separate datasets.


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METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION
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Description of methods used for collection/generation of data:
All data were generated through Monte Carlo simulations of CV-QKD
reconciliation protocols. The simulation framework models Gaussian-
modulated coherent-state CV-QKD systems, where Alice's modulated
quadratures are transmitted through either fibre-optic or THz wireless
channels and reconciled using Polar codes. Key references:

- D. Wang, X. Liu, C. Xu, S. X. Ng and L. Hanzo, "Short-Block Polar-Coded
  Reverse and Direct Reconciliation in CV-QKD," IEEE Open Journal of
  Vehicular Technology, vol. 6, pp. 2195-2209, 2025,
  doi: 10.1109/OJVT.2025.3591417.

- D. Wang, X. Liu, C. Xu, S. X. Ng and L. Hanzo, "Rate-Compatible Polar-
  and LDPC-Coded Hybrid ARQ Aided Reverse Reconciliation in CV-QKD,"
  IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology, 2025,
  doi: 10.1109/OJVT.2025.3650700.

- D. Wang, X. Liu, C. Xu, S. X. Ng and L. Hanzo, "Rate-Compatible
  Polar-Coded Hybrid ARQ Aided Simultaneous Quantum and Classical THz
  Communication over Fading Channels," IEEE Communications Letter,
  under review.

Methods for processing the data:
Raw simulation outputs (e.g. bit error counts, frame error counts) are
processed into FER/BLER curves, reconciliation efficiency (beta), and
secret key rates (SKR) using standard CV-QKD security analysis under
collective Gaussian attacks.

Software- or Instrument-specific information needed to interpret the data:
- EPS figures can be viewed with any standard viewer (e.g. Adobe Acrobat,
  Ghostscript, or imported into LaTeX via \includegraphics)
- Original simulations were performed in MATLAB R2022b or later

Environmental/experimental conditions:
Not applicable (computational simulations only).

People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or
submission:
- Dingzhao Wang (simulations, analysis, submission)
- Xin Liu (co-author)
- Chao Xu (supervisor)
- Soon Xin Ng (supervisor)
- Lajos Hanzo (supervisor)


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DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
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Key simulation parameters across all datasets:

- Polar code block lengths: N = 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096
- Modulation: Gaussian modulation (CV-QKD)
- Channel models: AWGN (fibre), Rician fading (THz)
- Decoder: Successive Cancellation (SC) / SC List (SCL)
- Frozen bit selection: Gaussian Approximation (GA)
- Security analysis: Collective Gaussian attacks, Holevo bound
- Shot noise units (SNU) convention used throughout

Variable definitions:
- SNR: signal-to-noise ratio of the quantum channel
- FER/BLER: frame/block error rate
- beta: reconciliation efficiency
- SKR: secret key rate (bits/use)
- T: channel transmittance
- eta: detector efficiency
- V_mod: modulation variance
- epsilon: excess noise (SNU)
- K: Rician K-factor (Paper 3 only)

Date that the file was created: April, 2026