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arXiv:1207.6345 · Physical Review A

Proof-of-principle demonstration of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution using polarization qubits

Thiago Ferreira da Silva, Douglas Vitoreti, GUILHERME BARRETO XAVIER, Gustavo Castro do Amaral, Guilherme P. Temporão, Jean Pierre von der Weid

Published Nov 7, 2013• 258 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We perform a proof-of-principle demonstration of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution protocol using weak coherent states and polarization-encoded qubits over two optical fiber links of 8.5 km each. Each link was independently stabilized against polarization drifts using a full-polarization control system employing two wavelength-multiplexed control channels. A linear-optics-based polarization Bell-state analyzer was built into the intermediate station, Charlie, which is connected to both Alice and Bob via the optical fiber links. Using decoy states, a lower bound for the secret-key generation rate of 1.04$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}$10${}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ bits/pulse is computed.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.88.052303

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We perform a proof-of-principle demonstration of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution protocol using weak coherent states and polarization-encoded qubits over two optical fiber links of 8.5 km each. Each link was independently stabilized against polarization drifts using a full-polarization control system employing two wavelength-multiplexed control channels. A linear-optics-based polarization Bell-state analyzer was built into the intermediate station, Charlie, which is connected to both Alice and Bob via the optical fiber links. Using decoy states, a lower bound for the secret-key generation rate of 1.04\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−6{}^{\ensuremath{-}6}\ensuremath−6 bits/pulse is computed.
We perform a proof-of-principle demonstration of the measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol using weak coherent states and polarization-encoded qubits over two optical fiber links of 8.5 km each. Each link was independently stabilized against polarization drifts using a full-polarization control system employing two wavelength-multiplexed control channels. A linear-optics-based polarization Bell-state analyzer was built into the intermediate station, Charlie, which is connected to both Alice and Bob via the optical fiber links. Using decoy-states, a lower bound for the secret-key generation rate of 1.04x10^-6 bits/pulse is computed.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows two remote parties to generate secret keys for cryptographic purposes. Its security has been proven with some assumptions. However, practical realizations may not comply with all the assumptions, leading to various attacks. Founded on the observation that almost all attacks are on the detection part, measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD) was proposed to remove all such attacks. This thesis presents an implementation of the protocol. In our implementation, key bit information was encoded in the polarization states of weak coherent pulses at 1542 nm wavelength in optical fibers, and decoy state techniques were employed. We ensured stable polarization preparation and alignment and developed a QKD system over 10 km of standard Telecom fibers at 500 KHz repetition rate. Our work demonstrates the practicality of MDI-QKD protocol of removing all attacks, existing and yet to be discovered, on the detection part of a QKD system.
The experimental demonstration of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) has been widely demonstrated. Thus far, several experimental groups have implemented polarization encoding MDI-QKD but with manual polarization controllers, or polarization modulators that make circular polarization states unstable. Here, we apply an intrinsically stable polarization-modulated unit (PMU) to MDI-QKD so that Alice and Bob can modulate four BB84 polarization states, all of which can be kept stable from even the harsh environment. Moreover, our PMU can provide two operational polarization encoding modes suitable to different application scenarios. A proof-of-principle demonstration of MDI-QKD based on our PMU is implemented with an interference visibility of 46.6%, an average quantum bit error rate of 1.49% for the Z basis and the secure key rate of 4.25 × 10−6 bits per pulse. The proposed study is helpful for building polarization encoding MDI-QKD systems with better stability.
Here we report the experimental implementation of a linear-optics partial Bell-state analyzer following the propagation of single-photons through long telecommunication optical fibers. Polarization encoded weak coherent states were sent from independent remote continuous wave faint laser sources over two 8.5 km long optical fiber spools. Automatic polarization stabilization systems were used in each spool to compensate the random polarization drift. We demonstrate stable two-photon interference with a dip visibility of 47.8% over a 40 minute time-interval, close to the theoretical maximum of 50% for weak coherent states. We successfully show that it is possible to carry out remote long-distance Bell-state analysis of polarization weak coherent states in spite of random residual birefringence fluctuations in optical fibers. These results pave the way for important applications in quantum communications with polarization qubits such as measurement device-independent quantum key distribution and quantum repeaters.
The decoy-state method could effectively enhance the performance of quantum key distribution (QKD) with a practical phase randomized weak coherent source. Although active modulation of the source intensity is effective and has been implemented in many experiments, passive preparation of decoy states is also an important addition to the family of decoy-state QKD protocols. In this paper, following the theory of Curty et al. [Phys. Rev. A 81, 022310 (2010)], we experimentally demonstrate the phase-encoding passive-decoy-state QKD with only linear optical setups and threshold single-photon detectors. In our experiment, two homemade independent pulsed lasers, with visibility of Hong-Ou-Mandel interference $0.53(\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003)$, have been implemented and used to passively generate the different decoy states. Finally, a secret key rate of $1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$/pulse is obtained with 10-km commercial fiber between Alice and Bob.
We study a class of receiver-device-independent quantum key distribution protocols based on a prepare-and-measure setup which aims to simplify their implementation. The security of the presented protocols relies on the assumption that the sender, Alice, prepares states that have limited inner-products. Hence, Alice’s device is partially characterized. There is no explicit bound on the Hilbert space dimension required. The receiver’s, Bob’s, device demands no characterization and can be represented as a black-box. The protocols are therefore immune to attacks on Bob’s device, such as blinding attacks. The users can generate a secret key while monitoring the correct functioning of their devices through observed statistics. We report a proof-of-principle demonstration, involving mostly off-the-shelf equipment, as well as a high-efficiency superconducting nanowire detector. A positive key rate is demonstrated over a 4.8 km low-loss optical fiber with finite-key analysis.