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arXiv:1512.05447 · New Journal of Physics

Finite-key security analysis for multilevel quantum key distribution

Kamil Brádler, Mohammad Mirhosseini, Robert Fickler, Anne Broadbent, Robert W. Boyd

Published Jul 14, 2016• 47 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We present a detailed security analysis of a d -dimensional quantum key distribution protocol based on two and three mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) both in an asymptotic and finite-key-length scenario. The finite secret key rates (in bits per detected photon) are calculated as a function of the length of the sifted key by (i) generalizing the uncertainly relation-based insight from BB84 to any d -level 2-MUB QKD protocol and (ii) by adopting recent advances in the second-order asymptotics for finite block length quantum coding (for both d -level 2- and 3-MUB QKD protocols). Since the finite and asymptotic secret key rates increase with d and the number of MUBs (together with the tolerable threshold) such QKD schemes could in principle offer an important advantage over BB84. We discuss the possibility of an experimental realization of the 3-MUB QKD protocol with the orbital angular momentum degrees of freedom of photons.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/18/7/073030

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We present a detailed security analysis of a d -dimensional quantum key distribution protocol based on two and three mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) both in an asymptotic and finite-key-length scenario. The finite secret key rates (in bits per detected photon) are calculated as a function of the length of the sifted key by (i) generalizing the uncertainly relation-based insight from BB84 to any d -level 2-MUB QKD protocol and (ii) by adopting recent advances in the second-order asymptotics for finite block length quantum coding (for both d -level 2- and 3-MUB QKD protocols). Since the finite and asymptotic secret key rates increase with d and the number of MUBs (together with the tolerable threshold) such QKD schemes could in principle offer an important advantage over BB84. We discuss the possibility of an experimental realization of the 3-MUB QKD protocol with the orbital angular momentum degrees of freedom of photons.
We present an experimental study of higher-dimensional quantum key distribution protocols based on mutually unbiased bases, implemented by means of photons carrying orbital angular momentum. We perform (d+1d+1d+1) mutually unbiased measurements in a classically simulated prepare-and-measure scheme and on a pair of entangled photons for dimensions ranging from d=2d=2d=2 to 5. In our analysis, we pay attention to the detection efficiency and photon pair creation probability. As security measures, we determine from experimental data the average error rate, the mutual information shared between the sender and receiver, and the secret key generation rate per photon. We demonstrate that increasing the dimension leads to an increased information capacity as well as higher key generation rates per photon. However, we find that the benefit of increasing the dimension is limited by practical implementation considerations, which in our case results in deleterious effects observed beyond a dimension of d=4d=4d=4.
We investigate the advantages of high-dimensional encoding for a quantum key distribution protocol. In particular, we address a BBM92-like protocol where the dimension of the systems can be larger than two and more than two mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) can be employed. Indeed, it is known that, for a system whose dimension ddd is a prime or the power of a prime, up to d+1d+1d+1 MUBs can be found. We derive an analytic expression for the asymptotic key rate when d+1d+1d+1 MUBs are exploited and show the effects of using different numbers of MUBs on the performance of the protocol. Then, we move to the non-asymptotic case and optimize the finite key rate against collective and coherent attacks for generic dimension of the systems and all possible numbers of MUBs. In the finite-key scenario, we find that, if the number of rounds is small enough, the highest key rate is obtained by exploiting three MUBs, instead of d+1d+1d+1 as one may expect.
The application of quantum mechanics contributes to the field of cryptography with very important advantage as it offers a mechanism for detecting the eavesdropper. The pioneering work of quantum key distribution uses mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) to prepare and measure qubits (or qudits). Weak mutually unbiased bases (WMUBs) have weaker properties than MUBs properties, however, unlike MUBs, a complete set of WMUBs can be constructed for systems with composite dimensions. In this paper, we study the use of weak mutually unbiased bases (WMUBs) in quantum key distribution for composite dimensional finite systems. We prove that the security analysis of using a complete set of WMUBs to prepare and measure the quantum states in the generalized BB84 protocol, gives better results than using the maximum number of MUBs that can be constructed, when they are analyzed against the intercept and resend attack.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols most often use two conjugate bases in order to verify the security of the quantum channel. In the majority of protocols, these bases are mutually unbiased to one another, which is to say they are formed from balanced superpositions of the entire set of states in the opposing basis. Here, we introduce a high-dimensional QKD protocol using qubit-like states, referred to as Fourier-qubits (or F-qubits). In our scheme, each F-qubit is a superposition of only two computational basis states with a relative phase that can take d distinct values, where d is the dimension of the computational basis. This non-mutually-unbiased approach allows us to bound the information leaked to an eavesdropper, maintaining security in high-dimensional quantum systems despite the states’ seemingly two-dimensional nature. By simplifying state preparation and measurement, our protocol offers a practical alternative for secure high-dimensional quantum communications. We experimentally demonstrate this protocol for a noisy high-dimensional QKD channel using the orbital angular momentum degree of freedom of light and discuss the potential benefits for encoding in other degrees of freedom. High dimensional quantum key distribution (QKD) systems will allow for higher key generation rate, but with added complexity for creating and detecting high dimensional quantum states. The authors demonstrate a QKD protocol using “qubit-like” qudit states, “F-qubits”, with simpler generation and detection, maintaining the benefits of high dimensional QKD protocols.
We encode mutually unbiased bases (MUBs) using the higher-dimensional orbital angular momentum (OAM) degree of freedom and illustrate how these states are encoded on a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM). We perform ( d - 1)- mutual unbiased measurements in both a classical prepare and measure scheme and on entangled photon pairs for dimensions ranging from d = 2 to 5. The calculated average error rate, mutual information and secret key rate show an increase in information capacity as well as higher generation rates as the dimension increases.
In this invited paper, we describe the photon angular momentum based entanglement assisted quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols, analyse their security, and determine the secure finite key fraction rates. Two types of entanglement-assisted protocols, namely two-basis and (D+1)-basis protocols (D is dimensionality of corresponding Hilbert space), have been identified as the most promising. We further analyse the implementation of the qubit gates required for these protocols. We demonstrate that photon angular momentum based QKD protocols significantly outperform corresponding two-dimensional QKD protocols in terms of the finite secret key rates.