Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1702.05155 · Quantum Science and Technology

A cost-effective measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution system for quantum networks

Raju Valivarthi, Qiang Zhou, Caleb John, Francesco Marsili, Varun Boehm Verma, Matthew D. Shaw, Sae Woo Nam, Daniel Oblak, Wolfgang Tittel

Published Sep 19, 2017• 37 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract We experimentally realize a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) system. It is based on cost-effective and commercially available hardware such as distributed feedback lasers and field-programmable gate arrays that enable time-bin qubit preparation and time-tagging, and active feedback systems that allow for compensation of time-varying properties of photons after transmission through deployed fiber. We examine the performance of our system, and conclude that its design does not compromise performance. Our demonstration paves the way for MDI-QKD-based quantum networks in star-type topology that extend over more than 100 km distance.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/aa8790

Related papers

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution: from idea towards application

Raju Valivarthi, I. Lucio-Martinez, Philip Chan +13 more

We assess the overall performance of our quantum key distribution (QKD) system implementing the measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol using components with varying capabilities such as different single-photon detectors and qubit preparation hardware. We experimentally show that superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors allow QKD over a channel featuring 60 dB loss, and QKD with more than 600 bits of secret key per second (not considering finite key effects) over a 16 dB loss channel. This corresponds to 300 and 80 km of standard telecommunication fiber, respectively. We also demonstrate that the integration of our QKD system into FPGA-based hardware (instead of state-of-the-art arbitrary waveform generators) does not impact on its performance. Our investigation allows us to acquire an improved understanding of the trade-offs between complexity, cost and system performance, which is required for future customization of MDI-QKD. Given that our system can be operated outside the laboratory over deployed fiber, we conclude that MDI-QKD is a promising approach to information-theoretic secure key distribution.

arXiv:1501.07307•Journal of Modern Optics•Mar 26, 2015•54 citations

Experimental Point-to-Multipoint Plug-and-Play Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution Network*

Guang‐Zhao Tang, Shi‐Hai Sun, Chunyan Li

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) offers a practical way to realize a star-type quantum network. Previous experiments on MDI-QKD networks can only support the point-to-point communication. We experimentally demonstrate a plug-and-play MDI-QKD network which can support the point-to-multipoint communication among three users. Benefiting from the plug-and-play MDI-QKD architecture, the whole network is automatically stabilized in spectrum, polarization, arrival time, and phase reference. The users only need the encoding devices, which means that the hardware requirements are greatly reduced. Our experiment shows that it is feasible to establish a point-to-multipoint MDI-QKD network.

Chinese Physics Letters•Jul 1, 2019•20 citations

Modeling a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution system

P. Chan, Joshua A. Slater, I. Lucio-Martinez +2 more

We present a detailed description of a widely applicable mathematical model for quantum key distribution (QKD) systems implementing the measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol. The model is tested by comparing its predictions with data taken using a proof-of-principle, time-bin qubit-based QKD system in a secure laboratory environment (i.e. in a setting in which eavesdropping can be excluded). The good agreement between the predictions and the experimental data allows the model to be used to optimize mean photon numbers per attenuated laser pulse, which are used to encode quantum bits. This in turn allows optimization of secret key rates of existing MDI-QKD systems, identification of rate-limiting components, and projection of future performance. In addition, we also performed measurements over deployed fiber, showing that our system's performance is not affected by environment-induced perturbations.

arXiv:1204.0738•Optics Express•May 19, 2014•42 citations

Gigahertz measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution using directly modulated lasers

Robert I. Woodward, Yuen San Lo, Mirko Pittaluga +5 more

Abstract Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is a technique for quantum-secured communication that eliminates all detector side-channels, although is currently limited by implementation complexity and low secure key rates. Here, we introduce a simple and compact MDI-QKD system design at gigahertz clock rates with enhanced resilience to laser fluctuations—thus enabling free-running semiconductor laser sources to be employed without spectral or phase feedback. This is achieved using direct laser modulation, carefully exploiting gain-switching and injection-locking laser dynamics to encode phase-modulated time-bin bits. Our design enables secure key rates that improve upon the state of the art by an order of magnitude, up to 8 bps at 54 dB channel loss and 2 kbps in the finite-size regime for 30 dB channel loss. This greatly simplified MDI-QKD system design and proof-of-principle demonstration shows that MDI-QKD is a practical, high-performance solution for future quantum communication networks.

arXiv:2105.06748•npj Quantum Information•Apr 8, 2021•88 citations

Field Test of Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution

Yan-Lin Tang, Hua‐Lei Yin, Sijing Chen +16 more

The main type of obstacles of practical applications of quantum key distribution (QKD) network are various attacks on detection. Measurement-device-independent QKD (MDIQKD) protocol is immune to all these attacks, and thus, a strong candidate for network security. Recently, several proof-of-principle demonstrations of MDIQKD have been performed. Although novel, those experiments are implemented in the laboratory with secure key rates less than 0.1 b/s. Besides, they need manual calibration frequently to maintain the system performance. These aspects render these demonstrations far from practicability. Thus, justification is extremely crucial for practical deployment into the field environment. Here, by developing an automatic feedback MDIQKD system operated at a high clock rate, we perform a field test via deployed fiber network of 30 km total length achieving a 16.9 b/s secure key rate. The result lays the foundation for a global quantum network, which can shield from all the detection-side attacks.

arXiv:1408.2330•IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics•Dec 6, 2014•60 citations

Experimental demonstration of continuous-variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution over optical fiber

Yan Tian, Pu Perry Wang, Jianqiang Liu +5 more

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) can remove all side-channel attacks on detectors. In the context of the dramatic progress of discrete-variable MDI-QKD and twin-field QKD, owing to the critical challenge of continuous-variable (CV) Bell-state measurement (BSM) of two remote independent quantum states, experimental demonstration of CV-MDI-QKD over optical fiber has remained elusive. To solve this problem, a technology for CV-BSM of remote independent quantum states is developed that consists of optical phase locking, phase estimation, real-time phase feedback, and quadrature remapping in the present work. With this technology, CV-BSM is accurately implemented, and the first CV-MDI-QKD over optical fiber is demonstrated, to our knowledge. The achieved secret key rates are 0.43 (0.19) bits per pulse over a 5-km (10-km) optical fiber. Our work shows that it is feasible to build a CV-MDI-QKD system over optical fiber. Further, the results pave the way towards realization of a high secret key rate and low-cost metropolitan MDI-QKD network, and serve as a stepping stone to a CV quantum repeater.

Optica•Mar 30, 2022•91 citations
Abstract We experimentally realize a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) system. It is based on cost-effective and commercially available hardware such as distributed feedback lasers and field-programmable gate arrays that enable time-bin qubit preparation and time-tagging, and active feedback systems that allow for compensation of time-varying properties of photons after transmission through deployed fiber. We examine the performance of our system, and conclude that its design does not compromise performance. Our demonstration paves the way for MDI-QKD-based quantum networks in star-type topology that extend over more than 100 km distance.
We assess the overall performance of our quantum key distribution (QKD) system implementing the measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol using components with varying capabilities such as different single-photon detectors and qubit preparation hardware. We experimentally show that superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors allow QKD over a channel featuring 60 dB loss, and QKD with more than 600 bits of secret key per second (not considering finite key effects) over a 16 dB loss channel. This corresponds to 300 and 80 km of standard telecommunication fiber, respectively. We also demonstrate that the integration of our QKD system into FPGA-based hardware (instead of state-of-the-art arbitrary waveform generators) does not impact on its performance. Our investigation allows us to acquire an improved understanding of the trade-offs between complexity, cost and system performance, which is required for future customization of MDI-QKD. Given that our system can be operated outside the laboratory over deployed fiber, we conclude that MDI-QKD is a promising approach to information-theoretic secure key distribution.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) offers a practical way to realize a star-type quantum network. Previous experiments on MDI-QKD networks can only support the point-to-point communication. We experimentally demonstrate a plug-and-play MDI-QKD network which can support the point-to-multipoint communication among three users. Benefiting from the plug-and-play MDI-QKD architecture, the whole network is automatically stabilized in spectrum, polarization, arrival time, and phase reference. The users only need the encoding devices, which means that the hardware requirements are greatly reduced. Our experiment shows that it is feasible to establish a point-to-multipoint MDI-QKD network.
We present a detailed description of a widely applicable mathematical model for quantum key distribution (QKD) systems implementing the measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol. The model is tested by comparing its predictions with data taken using a proof-of-principle, time-bin qubit-based QKD system in a secure laboratory environment (i.e. in a setting in which eavesdropping can be excluded). The good agreement between the predictions and the experimental data allows the model to be used to optimize mean photon numbers per attenuated laser pulse, which are used to encode quantum bits. This in turn allows optimization of secret key rates of existing MDI-QKD systems, identification of rate-limiting components, and projection of future performance. In addition, we also performed measurements over deployed fiber, showing that our system's performance is not affected by environment-induced perturbations.
Abstract Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is a technique for quantum-secured communication that eliminates all detector side-channels, although is currently limited by implementation complexity and low secure key rates. Here, we introduce a simple and compact MDI-QKD system design at gigahertz clock rates with enhanced resilience to laser fluctuations—thus enabling free-running semiconductor laser sources to be employed without spectral or phase feedback. This is achieved using direct laser modulation, carefully exploiting gain-switching and injection-locking laser dynamics to encode phase-modulated time-bin bits. Our design enables secure key rates that improve upon the state of the art by an order of magnitude, up to 8 bps at 54 dB channel loss and 2 kbps in the finite-size regime for 30 dB channel loss. This greatly simplified MDI-QKD system design and proof-of-principle demonstration shows that MDI-QKD is a practical, high-performance solution for future quantum communication networks.
The main type of obstacles of practical applications of quantum key distribution (QKD) network are various attacks on detection. Measurement-device-independent QKD (MDIQKD) protocol is immune to all these attacks, and thus, a strong candidate for network security. Recently, several proof-of-principle demonstrations of MDIQKD have been performed. Although novel, those experiments are implemented in the laboratory with secure key rates less than 0.1 b/s. Besides, they need manual calibration frequently to maintain the system performance. These aspects render these demonstrations far from practicability. Thus, justification is extremely crucial for practical deployment into the field environment. Here, by developing an automatic feedback MDIQKD system operated at a high clock rate, we perform a field test via deployed fiber network of 30 km total length achieving a 16.9 b/s secure key rate. The result lays the foundation for a global quantum network, which can shield from all the detection-side attacks.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) can remove all side-channel attacks on detectors. In the context of the dramatic progress of discrete-variable MDI-QKD and twin-field QKD, owing to the critical challenge of continuous-variable (CV) Bell-state measurement (BSM) of two remote independent quantum states, experimental demonstration of CV-MDI-QKD over optical fiber has remained elusive. To solve this problem, a technology for CV-BSM of remote independent quantum states is developed that consists of optical phase locking, phase estimation, real-time phase feedback, and quadrature remapping in the present work. With this technology, CV-BSM is accurately implemented, and the first CV-MDI-QKD over optical fiber is demonstrated, to our knowledge. The achieved secret key rates are 0.43 (0.19) bits per pulse over a 5-km (10-km) optical fiber. Our work shows that it is feasible to build a CV-MDI-QKD system over optical fiber. Further, the results pave the way towards realization of a high secret key rate and low-cost metropolitan MDI-QKD network, and serve as a stepping stone to a CV quantum repeater.