Continuous variable quantum key distribution channel emulator for the SPOQC mission

In a free space optical (FSO) communication link from satellite to ground, the losses in the channel will be dynamic. Thus, the characterization of the FSO channel is of great importance, and this can be emulated in the lab to evaluate the realistic performance of a satellite payload. In this work, we introduce a novel optical channel emulator capable of replicating these dynamics, especially for Low Earth Orbit-based CubSats. We demonstrate its ability to accurately emulate a satellite-to-ground optical communications channel under various atmospheric turbulence strengths, satellite trajectories, and optical ground station parameters at a given optical wavelength of interest. Our satellite channel emulator was designed to test and benchmark the performance of the continuous variable quantum key distribution payload for the Satellite Platform for Optical Quantum Communications mission—an in-orbit demonstrator for the UK’s Quantum Communication Hub, to be launched in early 2026.