Statistical quadrature evolution by inference for multicarrier continuous-variable quantum key distribution

Abstract

We define the statistical quadrature evolution (QE) method for multicarrier continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD). A multicarrier CVQKD protocol uses Gaussian subcarrier quantum continuous variables for information transmission. The QE scheme utilizes the theory of mathematical statistics and statistical information processing. The QE model is based on the Gaussian quadrature inference (GQI) framework to provide a minimal error estimate of the CV state quadratures. The QE method evaluates a unique and stable estimation of the non-observable continuous input from the measurement results and through the statistical inference method yielded from the GQI framework. We prove that the QE method minimizes the overall expected error by an estimator function and provides a viable, easily implementable, and computationally efficient way to maximize the extractable information from the observed data. The QE framework can be established in an arbitrary CVQKD protocol and measurement setting and is implementable by standard low-complexity functions, which is particularly convenient for experimental CVQKD.