Security analysis for a mutually partially unbiased bases–based protocol

Abstract

The recently proposed mutually partially unbiased bases (MPUB)–based protocol, which encodes with Laguerre–Gaussian modes and Hermite–Gaussian modes of the same mode order, can close the security loophole caused by state-dependent diffraction. However, its pessimistic security proof limits the performance, and some practical issues, such as finite-key size and imperfect sources, have not been considered. Here, we improve the key rates of the MPUB-based protocol by accurately estimating the phase error rate. Moreover, the effect of finite-key size and its performance when combined with the decoy state method are demonstrated. Our work broadens the application scope of the MPUB-based protocol, and thereby advances the development of high-dimensional quantum key distribution using spatial modes.