Quantum Key Distribution Scheme Research Articles

Error-Control Information Reconciliation Scheme for Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution Using Fixed-Bit Polar Codes

Error-Control Information Reconciliation Scheme for Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution Using Fixed-Bit Polar Codes

Kirchhoff meets Johnson: In pursuit of unconditionally secure communication

AbstractNoise: an enemy to be dealt with and a major factor limiting communication system performance. However, what if there is gold in that garbage? In conventional engineering, our focus is primarily on eliminating, suppressing, combating, or even ignoring noise and its detrimental impacts. Conversely, could we exploit it similarly to biology, which utilizes noise‐alike carrier signals to convey information? In this context, the utilization of noise, or noise‐alike signals in general, has been put forward as a means to realize unconditionally secure communication systems in the future. In this tutorial article, we begin by tracing the origins of thermal noise‐based communication and highlighting one of its significant applications for ensuring unconditionally secure networks: the Kirchhoff‐law‐Johnson‐noise (KLJN) secure key exchange scheme. We then delve into the inherent challenges tied to secure communication and discuss the imperative need for physics‐based key distribution schemes in pursuit of unconditional security. Concurrently, we provide a concise overview of quantum key distribution schemes and draw comparisons with their KLJN‐based counterparts. Finally, extending beyond wired communication loops, we explore the transmission of noise signals over‐the‐air and evaluate their potential for stealth and secure wireless communication systems.

Attack detection scheme for continuous variable quantum key distribution based on a graph neural network

The practical security of a continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) system is vulnerable to various attack strategies due to the significant difference between the idealized theoretical model and the practical physical system. The existing countermeasures against these attacks involve exploiting different real-time monitoring modules, which presents a challenge in effectively classifying attacks. We investigate a graph neural network (GNN)-based attack detection scheme for CV-QKD, which models data as a graph structure using three different methods for various conditions. Particularly, one of the proposed methods requires no additional devices and can detect attacks with over 99% accuracy. The algorithm can be expanded to different scenarios without additional training and can achieve a detection efficiency of more than 95%. Furthermore, our proposed scheme incorporates anomaly detection algorithms into the detection module, enabling 85% effective detection of partially unknown attacks with minimal security data.

A security-enhanced authentication scheme for quantum-key-distribution (QKD) enabled Internet of vehicles in multi-cloud environment

The Internet of vehicles (IoV) is an essential part of modern intelligent transportation systems (ITS). In the ITS, intelligent connected vehicle can access a variety of latency-sensitive cloud services through the vulnerable wireless communication channel, which could lead to security and privacy issues. To prevent access by malicious nodes, a large number of authentication schemes have been proposed. However, with the diversification of cloud services and the rapid development of quantum computing, there are many drawbacks remain, including timeliness of authentication and resisting quantum computing. In light of this, we propose a lattice-based secure and efficient multi-cloud authentication and key agreement scheme for quantum key distribution (QKD) enabled IoV. Its features are as follows: i) Security-enhanced and Efficient Authentication: We combine the lattice-based lightweight signatures and quantum authentication keys to guarantee security-enhanced authentication. Meanwhile, we propose the quantum security service cloud (QSC) to manage the authentication of all vehicles and cloud server providers (CSPs) to reduce the authentication rounds and improve efficiency. ii) Extended Quantum Key Distribution (eQKD): In wireless networks, quantum key agreement is achieved through the pre-filled quantum keys. In wired networks, quantum key is accomplished by QKD with Bennett-Brassard 1984 (BB84) protocol. Furthermore, formal and informal security demonstrates that the scheme could resist potential security attacks. The performance comparison illustrates that our scheme could decrease the computational overhead by 27.23%-81.78% and authentication rounds by 81.34%-93.10%.

Parameter optimization of SQCC-CVQKD based on genetic algorithm in the terahertz band

Recently, we proposed a continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) scheme based on simultaneous quantum and classical communication (SQCC) in the terahertz (THz) band. It performs classical modulation and quantum Gaussian modulation at the same coherent pulse at the sending end, and an amplifier is used to amplify and demultiplex the signal at the receiving end. However, the previous study set parameters based on prior knowledge which has significant limitations, and as the previous study showed, parameter selection is a crucial task that directly affects the performance of the system. In this paper, we use the genetic algorithm to optimize the parameter selection, and how the different conditions influence the optimal value of parameters is also analyzed. The simulation results show that the parameter optimized with the algorithm can make the scheme achieve a higher secret key rate which greatly improves the applicability of the SQCC scheme in the THz band. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the scheme to construct wireless quantum communication networks.

Quantum key distribution with relay-assisted scheme over long atmospheric channels

A relay-assisted scheme for quantum key distribution (QKD) over long atmospheric channels is proposed. In this scheme, a polarization orbital-angular-moment with measurement-device-independent (POAM-MDI) QKD for quantum relay is designed to both reconstruct the turbulence-degraded qubits and redirect the qubits to the next relay or to Bob who performs detection randomization. The proposed scheme will neither be time-consuming nor lead to unstable or even intermittent in volatile environments. Theoretical and numerical results show that the proposed relay-assisted scheme outperforms the conventional direct transmission over long atmospheric channels.

Oscillating photonic Bell state from a semiconductor quantum dot for quantum key distribution

An on-demand source of bright entangled photon pairs is desirable for quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum repeaters. The leading candidate to generate such pairs is based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in non-linear crystals. However, its pair extraction efficiency is limited to 0.1% when operating at near-unity fidelity due to multiphoton emission at high brightness. Quantum dots in photonic nanostructures can in principle overcome this limit, but the devices with high entanglement fidelity (99%) have low pair extraction efficiency (0.01%). Here, we show a measured peak entanglement fidelity of 97.5% ± 0.8% and pair extraction efficiency of 0.65% from an InAsP quantum dot in an InP photonic nanowire waveguide. We show that the generated oscillating two-photon Bell state can establish a secure key for peer-to-peer QKD. Using our time-resolved QKD scheme alleviates the need to remove the quantum dot energy splitting of the intermediate exciton states in the biexciton-exciton cascade.

A Novel Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution Scheme Based on Multi-Dimensional Multiplexing Technology

Dual-polarization division multiplexing (DPDM) is considered to be a potential method to boost the secure key rate (SKR) of the continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) system. In this article, we propose a pilot alternately assisted local local oscillator (LLO) CV-QKD scheme based on multi-dimensional multiplexing, where time division multiplexing and frequency division multiplexing are combined with dual-polarization multiplexing techniques to dramatically isolate the quantum signal from the pilot tone. We establish a general excess noise model for the LLO CV-QKD system to analyze the influence mechanism of various disturbances (e.g., time-domain diffusion, frequency-domain modulation residual, and polarization perturbation) on the key parameters, such as the channel transmittance and excess noise. Specifically, the photon leakage noise from the reference path to the quantum path and that between quantum signals with two different polarization paths are simultaneously analyzed in the dual-polarization LLO CV-QKD scheme for the first time. Furthermore, a series of simulations are established to verify the performance of the proposed scheme. The results show that the maximal isolation degree achieves 84.0 dB~90.4 dB, and the crosstalk between pilot tones and quantum signals can be suppressed to a very small range. By optimizing the system parameters (e.g., modulation variance and repetition frequency), the SKR with 12.801 Mbps@25 km is achieved under the infinite polarization extinction ratio (PER) and 30 dB residual ratio of the frequency modulation in the nanosecond-level pulse width. Moreover, the performance of the proposed DPDM CV-QKD scheme under relatively harsh conditions is simulated; the results show that the SKR with 1.02 Mbps@25 km is achieved under a relatively low PER of 17 dB with the nanosecond-level pulse width and 20 dB residual ratio of the frequency modulation. Our work lays an important theoretical foundation for the practical DPDM LLO CV-QKD system.

Underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution scheme based on imperfect measurement basis choice

Measurement basis choice is an essential step in the underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution system based on homodyne detection. However, in practice, finite bandwidth of analog-to-digital converter at the receiver’s side is limited, which can lead to defects in the measurement basis choice. That is, the receiver cannot accurately modulate the corresponding phase angle on the phase modulator for measurement basis choice to implement homodyne detection. The imperfect measurement basis choice will introduce extra excess noise, which affects the security of underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution scheme. To solve this problem, we propose an underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution scheme based on imperfect measurement basis choice, and analyze the impact of imperfect measurement basis choice on the performance of underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution system in detail. The research results indicate that the extra excess noise introduced by imperfect measurement basis choice can reduce the secret key rate and maximum transmission distance of the underwater Gaussian modulated quantum key distribution, thus reducing the security of the system. In order to achieve reliable underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution, we quantitatively analyze the extra excess noise introduced by the imperfect measurement basis choice and obtain its security limit. Besides, we also consider the influence of different seawater depths on the security limit of the proposed scheme, effectively solving the security risks caused by the imperfect measurement basis choice. Furthermore, for the proposed scheme, we not only consider its asymptotic security case but also its composable security case, and performance curves obtained in the latter are tighter than that achieved in the former. The proposed scheme aims to promote the practical process of underwater continuous variable quantum key distribution system and provide theoretical guidance for the accurate evaluation of water channel parameters in underwater communication of global quantum communication networks.

Simultaneous BPSK classical communication and continuous variable quantum key distribution with a locally local oscillator regenerated by optical injection phase locked loop

This paper proposes a scheme for simultaneous classical communication and continuous variable quantum key distribution with a true local oscillator. In this scheme, the emitter’s laser, after binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation, is multiplexed in polarization with the quantum signal and sent to the receiver. After BPSK demodulation and correction, this signal is used for local oscillator regeneration by an optical injection phase-locked loop method. Comparing the effective noise sources in this scheme with typical local local oscillator schemes revealed that continuous variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) with a true local oscillator based on the optical injection phase-locked loop encounters lower levels of noise in comparison to the pre-existing genuine local oscillator CV-QKDs.

Phase encoded quantum key distribution up to 380 km in standard telecom grade fiber enabled by baseline error optimization

Phase encoding in quantum key distribution (QKD) enables long-distance information-theoretic secure communication in optical fibers. We present a novel theoretical model characterizing errors from various sources in practical phase encoding-based QKD systems, namely the laser linewidth, detector dark counts, and channel dispersion. This model provides optimized optical pulse parameters and less distortion in pulses, which eliminates system imperfections and leads to a reduced quantum bit error rate (QBER) for practical QKD scenario. This analysis is applicable to various fiber-based phase and time encoding protocols. In particular, we implement this to a differential phase shift (DPS) QKD scheme operating at a 2.5 GHz clock, which produces a secure key rate of 193 bits/s at a fiber length of 265 km and an unprecedented QBER < 1% up to 225 km length with standard telecom components. We show that by adjusting the quantum efficiency and dark count rates of detectors, proposed system can establish secure keys up to 380 km distance using standard telecom grade fiber with a QBER of 1.48%. Moreover, the system is compatible with existing optical fiber networks and capable of establishing a secure key exchange between two cities 432 km apart using ultra-low-loss (ULL) specialty fiber.

Proof-of-Principle Demonstration of Fully Passive Quantum Key Distribution.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) offers information-theoretic security based on the fundamental laws of physics. However, device imperfections, such as those in active modulators, may introduce side-channel leakage, thus compromising practical security. Attempts to remove active modulation, including passive decoy intensity preparation and polarization encoding, have faced theoretical constraints and inadequate security verification, thus hindering the achievement of a fully passive QKD scheme. Recent research [W. Wang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 220801 (2023).PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.130.220801; 2V. Zapatero et al., Quantum Sci. Technol. 8, 025014 (2023).2058-956510.1088/2058-9565/acbc46] has systematically analyzed the security of a fully passive modulation protocol. Based on this, we utilize the gain-switching technique in combination with the postselection scheme and perform a proof-of-principle demonstration of a fully passive quantum key distribution with polarization encoding at channel losses of 7.2dB, 11.6dB, and 16.7dB. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of active-modulation-free QKD in polarization-encoded systems.

Measurement device-independent quantum key distribution with vector vortex modes under diverse weather conditions

Most quantum key distribution schemes exploiting orbital angular momentum-carrying optical beams are based on conventional set-ups, opening up the possibility of detector side-channel attacks. These optical beams also suffer from spatial aberrations due to atmospheric turbulence and unfavorable weather conditions. Consequently, we introduce a measurement device-independent quantum key distribution implemented with vector vortex modes. We study the transmission of vector vortex and scalar beams through a turbulent atmospheric link under diverse weather conditions such as rain or haze. We demonstrate that a maximum secure key transmission distance of 178 km can be achieved under clear conditions by utilizing the vector vortex beams, which have been mainly ignored in the literature. When raindrops have a diameter of 6 mm and fog particles have a radius of 0.5 upmum, the signals can reach 152 km and 160 km, respectively. Since these distances are comparable, this work sheds light into the feasibility of implementing measurement device-independent quantum key distribution using vector vortex modes under diverse weather conditions. Most significantly, this opens the door to practical secure quantum communications.

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution with time-division dual-quadrature homodyne detection.

We propose a novel heterodyne detection scheme for continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD), which measures both quadrature components of a quantum signal encoded in optical phase space. The proposed method uses time division to achieve identical performance to conventional heterodyne detection with only a single homodyne detection system. Our method also uses a Faraday-Michelson interferometer to make it independent of polarization drift and eliminate the need for dynamic polarization control. Our method is experimentally demonstrated using the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states (GMCS) protocol over a 20.06 km optical fiber channel, achieving an expected secret key rate of up to 0.187 Mbps.

A simpler security proof for 6-state quantum key distribution

Six-state Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) achieves the highest key rate in the class of qubit-based QKD schemes. The standard security proof, which has been developed since 2005, invokes complicated theorems involving smooth R\'{e}nyi entropies. In this paper we present a simpler security proof for 6-state QKD that entirely avoids R\'{e}nyi entropies. This is achieved by applying state smoothing directly in the Bell basis. We obtain the well known asymptotic rate, but with slightly more favorable finite-size terms. We furthermore show that the same proof technique can be used for 6-state quantum key recycling.

Single-emitter quantum key distribution over 175 km of fibre with optimised finite key rates

Quantum key distribution with solid-state single-photon emitters is gaining traction due to their rapidly improving performance and compatibility with future quantum networks. Here we emulate a quantum key distribution scheme with quantum-dot-generated single photons frequency-converted to 1550 nm, achieving count rates of 1.6 MHz with {g}^{left(2right)}left(0right)=3.6% and asymptotic positive key rates over 175 km of telecom fibre. We show that the commonly used finite-key analysis for non-decoy state QKD drastically overestimates secure key acquisition times due to overly loose bounds on statistical fluctuations. Using the tighter multiplicative Chernoff bound to constrain the estimated finite key parameters, we reduce the required number of received signals by a factor 108. The resulting finite key rate approaches the asymptotic limit at all achievable distances in acquisition times of one hour, and at 100 km we generate finite keys at 13 kbps for one minute of acquisition. This result is an important step towards long-distance single-emitter quantum networking.

Quantum Key Distribution Scheme with Key Recycling in Integrated Optical Network

Quantum Key Distribution Scheme with Key Recycling in Integrated Optical Network

Alternative schemes for twin-field quantum key distribution with discrete-phase-randomized sources

The twin-field quantum key distribution (TF-QKD) protocol and its variants can overcome the well-known rate-loss bound without quantum repeaters, which have attracted significant attention. Generally, to ensure the security of these protocols, weak coherent states with continuous randomized phases are always assumed in the test mode. However, this assumption is difficult to meet in practice. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, we propose two alternative discrete-phase-randomized (DPR)-twin-field quantum key distribution protocols, which remove the phase sifting procedure in the code mode. Simulation results show that when compared with previous discrete-phase-randomized-twin-field quantum key distribution protocols, our modified protocols can significantly improve the secret key rate in the low channel loss range, which is very promising for practical twin-field quantum key distribution systems.

Improved statistical fluctuation analysis for two decoy-states phase matching quantum key distribution

Abstract Phase matching quantum key distribution is a promising scheme for remote quantum key distribution, breaking through the traditional linear key-rate bound. In practical applications, finite data size can cause significant system performance deterioration when data size is below 1010. In this paper, an improved statistical fluctuation analysis method is applied for the first time to two decoy-states phase matching quantum key distribution, offering new insights and potential solutions for improving the key generation rate and the maximum transmission distance while maintaining security. Moreover, we also compares the impacts of the proposed improved statistical fluctuation analysis method to those of the Gaussian approximation and Chernoff-Hoeffding boundary methods on system performance. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme significantly improves key generation rate and maximum transmission distance compared to the Chernoff-Hoeffding approach, and approaches the results obtained when the Gaussian approximation is employed. At the same time, the proposed scheme retains the same security level as the Chernoff-Hoeffding method, and is even more secure than the Gaussian approximation.

Multipartite quantum cryptography based on the violation of Svetlichny’s inequality

Multipartite cryptography is useful for some particular missions. In this paper, we present a quantum key distribution scheme in which three separated observers can securely share a set of keys by using a sequence of 3-particle GHZ states. We prove that the violation of Svetlichny’s inequality can be utilized to test for eavesdropping, and even when the eavesdropper can completely control the outcomes of two participants’ measurements, our scheme still ensures the security of the keys distribution. This scheme can be easily extended to the case of N-party keys distribution, and the violation of N-partite Svetlichny’s inequality guarantees the security of the generalized scheme. Since the GHZ state has maximum entanglement, its perfect monogamy guarantee the device-independent security of our protocol. However, quantum entanglement is a vulnerable resource which is often decayed during transmission, so we need here to derive the secret-key rate of our protocol under the condition of using quantum states with non-maximal entanglement. We then calculate the extractable secret-key rate of the three-party key distribution protocol for the Werner state in the device-independent scenario. We find that the value of the extractable secret-key rate monotonously approaches 1 as the value of the visibility of the Werner state increases, and it reaches its maximum value 1 when the Werner state becomes the GHZ state.