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:1812.01148 · Physical Review A

Long-distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution using separable Gaussian states

Jian Zhou, Duan Huang, Ying Guo

Published Oct 3, 2018• 20 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) is considered to be an alternative to classical cryptography for secure communication. However, its transmission distance is restricted to metropolitan areas, given that it is affected by the channel excess noise and losses. In this paper, we present a scheme for implementing long-distance CVQKD using separable Gaussian states. This tunable QKD protocol requires separable Gaussian states, which are squeezed and displaced, along with the assistance of classical communication and available linear optics components. This protocol originates from the entanglement of one mode and the auxiliary mode used for distribution, which is first destroyed by local correlated noises and restored subsequently by the interference of the auxiliary mode with the second distant separable correlated mode. The displacement matrix is organized by two six-dimensional vectors and is finally fixed by the separability of the tripartite system. The separability between the ancilla and Alice and Bob's system mitigates the enemy's eavesdropping, leading to tolerating higher excess noise and achieving longer transmission distance.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.98.042303

Related papers

Quantum key distribution using basis encoding of Gaussian-modulated coherent states

Peng Huang, Jingzheng Huang, Zheshen Zhang +1 more

The continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) has been demonstrated to be available in practical secure quantum cryptography. However, its performance is restricted strongly by the channel excess noise and the reconciliation efficiency. In this paper, we present a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol by encoding the secret keys on the random choices of two measurement bases: the conjugate quadratures $X$ and $P$. The employed encoding method can dramatically weaken the effects of channel excess noise and reconciliation efficiency on the performance of the QKD protocol. Subsequently, the proposed scheme exhibits the capability to tolerate much higher excess noise and enables us to reach a much longer secure transmission distance even at lower reconciliation efficiency. The proposal can work alternatively to strengthen significantly the performance of the known Gaussian-modulated CVQKD protocol and serve as a multiplier for practical secure quantum cryptography with continuous variables.

Physical Review A•Apr 9, 2018•30 citations

Adaptive multicarrier quadrature division modulation for long-distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution

L. Gyongyosi, Sándor Imre

In a continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) system, the information is conveyed by coherent state carriers. The quantum continuous variables are sent through a quantum channel, where the presence of the eavesdropper adds a white Gaussian noise to the transmission. The amount of tolerable noise and loss is a crucial point in CVQKD, since it determines the overall performance of the protocol, including the secure key rates and transmission distances. In this work, we propose the adaptive multicarrier quadrature division (AMQD) modulation technique for CVQKD. The method granulates the Gaussian random input into Gaussian subcarrier continuous variables in the encoding phase, which are then decoded by a continuous unitary transformation. The subcarrier coherent variables formulate Gaussian sub-channels from the physical link with strongly diverse transmission capabilities, which leads to significantly improved transmission efficiency, higher tolerable loss, and excess noise. We also investigate a modulation-variance adaption technique within the AMQD scheme, which provides optimal capacity-achieving communication over the sub-channels in the presence of a Gaussian noise.

arXiv:1310.1608•Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 22, 2014•35 citations

Experimental demonstration of continuous-variable quantum key distribution over 80 km of standard telecom fiber

Paul Jouguet, Sébastien Kunz-Jacques, Anthony Leverrier +2 more

Summary form only given. Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) is a promising alternative to commonly used discrete-variable QKD protocols, because this technology can be implemented with standard telecom components and recent results suggest that it will be compatible with standard wavelength division multiplexed telecommunication networks [1]. Security proofs against general eavesdropping attacks are available for CVQKD protocols using Gaussian modulation [2], and field implementations over deployed telecommunication networks have been demonstrated over the past few years [3].Long-distance operation of CVQKD systems, however, has been hindered until now by the limited efficiency of the complex error-correction (or reconciliation) algorithms that are required to extract the secret key from the correlated data shared by Alice and Bob. We have designed high-efficiency error correcting-codes [4] allowing to extract an errorless secret key in a CVQKD protocol using a Gaussian modulation of coherent states and a homodyne detection system. These codes are available for a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios on a Gaussian noise channel with a binary modulation and can be combined with a multidimensional reconciliation method [5]. This improved reconciliation procedure considerably extends the secure range of a continuous-variable quantum key distribution with Gaussian modulation.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2013•8 citations

Towards long-distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution enforced by nonclassicality

Vladyslav C. Usenko, Radim Filip

Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols allow two trusted parties to distribute a cryptographic key which they can further use for the unconditionally secure classical communication. During the last decades the field has grown mature with the commercial prototypes being available. They mostly rely on the faint laser pulses implementing the protocols on the basis of single qubits and qubit pairs. Alternatively, the continuous-variable (CV) protocols based on the multi-photon states of light were developed recently. They are typically built using the quadrature modulation of the coherent or squeezed states and subsequent homodyne detection. In the case of Gaussian modulation the security of the protocols is based on the extremality of Gaussian states, which allows estimating bounds on the leaked information. The Gaussian CV QKD protocols were shown secure for any degree of channel attenuation, but are restricted by the channel noise. Moreover, the applicability of Gaussian CV QKD protocols is limited by the effectiveness of classical post-processing algorithms, used by the trusted parties to process the measured data and distill the cryptographic key. On the other hand, the squeezedstate CV QKD protocols were previously considered ineffective under limited degrees of squeezing, while strong squeezing remains experimentally challenging. In the present work we distinguish between the classical and quantum resources in the Gaussian CV QKD and address the role of nonclassicality in the Gaussian protocols. We demonstrate, that by properly combining squeezed resource and coherent modulation, trusted parties are able to decouple eavesdropper from the channel, thus being able to establish the secure key from any amount of the classical mutual information. Our result shows a very promising path towards the long-distance CV QKD.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 19, 2012•0 citations

Long-Distance Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution with Continuous Variables

Tianxiang Zhan, Huasheng Li, Peng Huang +17 more

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) enables remote users to share high-rate and unconditionally secure secret keys while maintaining compatibility with classical optical communication networks and effective resistance against background noise. However, CVQKD experiments have been demonstrated only indoors or over short outdoor distances. Here, by developing channel-fluctuation-independent high-precision manipulation of continuous-variable quantum states, high-accuracy quantum signal acquisition and processing, and high-efficiency free-space acquisition, tracking, and pointing technology, we overcome the excess noise due to atmospheric effects especially in daylight without extra wavelength conversion and narrow-linewidth spectral filtering and demonstrate for the first time long-distance free-space quantum key distribution under the asymptotic condition over 7-km inland and 9.6-km maritime atmospheric channels with Gaussian-modulated coherent states. Given that the CVQKD system is naturally compatible with existing ground fiber telecommunication networks, it marks an essential step for realizing integrated air-ground quantum access networks with cross-domain applications.

arXiv:2507.21546•Physical Review Letters•Feb 10, 2026•5 citations

Long-Distance Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution with Entangled States

Ning Wang, Shanna Du, Wenyuan Liu +3 more

Secure communication protocols based on quantum physics compel worldwide attention. Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) uses a cost-effective detection technique instead of dedicated single-photon-counting technology, and can provide high key rates over metropolitan distances. Traditional coherent-state CV-QKD protocols, however, suffer from low tolerance of channel excess noise. The authors succeed in distributing Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled states over a 50-km standard fiber with negligible excess noise, and further demonstrate CV-QKD in a high-noise environment with performance superior to that of the optimized coherent-state protocol.

Physical Review Applied•Dec 12, 2018•56 citations
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) is considered to be an alternative to classical cryptography for secure communication. However, its transmission distance is restricted to metropolitan areas, given that it is affected by the channel excess noise and losses. In this paper, we present a scheme for implementing long-distance CVQKD using separable Gaussian states. This tunable QKD protocol requires separable Gaussian states, which are squeezed and displaced, along with the assistance of classical communication and available linear optics components. This protocol originates from the entanglement of one mode and the auxiliary mode used for distribution, which is first destroyed by local correlated noises and restored subsequently by the interference of the auxiliary mode with the second distant separable correlated mode. The displacement matrix is organized by two six-dimensional vectors and is finally fixed by the separability of the tripartite system. The separability between the ancilla and Alice and Bob's system mitigates the enemy's eavesdropping, leading to tolerating higher excess noise and achieving longer transmission distance.
The continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) has been demonstrated to be available in practical secure quantum cryptography. However, its performance is restricted strongly by the channel excess noise and the reconciliation efficiency. In this paper, we present a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol by encoding the secret keys on the random choices of two measurement bases: the conjugate quadratures XXX and PPP. The employed encoding method can dramatically weaken the effects of channel excess noise and reconciliation efficiency on the performance of the QKD protocol. Subsequently, the proposed scheme exhibits the capability to tolerate much higher excess noise and enables us to reach a much longer secure transmission distance even at lower reconciliation efficiency. The proposal can work alternatively to strengthen significantly the performance of the known Gaussian-modulated CVQKD protocol and serve as a multiplier for practical secure quantum cryptography with continuous variables.
In a continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) system, the information is conveyed by coherent state carriers. The quantum continuous variables are sent through a quantum channel, where the presence of the eavesdropper adds a white Gaussian noise to the transmission. The amount of tolerable noise and loss is a crucial point in CVQKD, since it determines the overall performance of the protocol, including the secure key rates and transmission distances. In this work, we propose the adaptive multicarrier quadrature division (AMQD) modulation technique for CVQKD. The method granulates the Gaussian random input into Gaussian subcarrier continuous variables in the encoding phase, which are then decoded by a continuous unitary transformation. The subcarrier coherent variables formulate Gaussian sub-channels from the physical link with strongly diverse transmission capabilities, which leads to significantly improved transmission efficiency, higher tolerable loss, and excess noise. We also investigate a modulation-variance adaption technique within the AMQD scheme, which provides optimal capacity-achieving communication over the sub-channels in the presence of a Gaussian noise.
Summary form only given. Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) is a promising alternative to commonly used discrete-variable QKD protocols, because this technology can be implemented with standard telecom components and recent results suggest that it will be compatible with standard wavelength division multiplexed telecommunication networks [1]. Security proofs against general eavesdropping attacks are available for CVQKD protocols using Gaussian modulation [2], and field implementations over deployed telecommunication networks have been demonstrated over the past few years [3].Long-distance operation of CVQKD systems, however, has been hindered until now by the limited efficiency of the complex error-correction (or reconciliation) algorithms that are required to extract the secret key from the correlated data shared by Alice and Bob. We have designed high-efficiency error correcting-codes [4] allowing to extract an errorless secret key in a CVQKD protocol using a Gaussian modulation of coherent states and a homodyne detection system. These codes are available for a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios on a Gaussian noise channel with a binary modulation and can be combined with a multidimensional reconciliation method [5]. This improved reconciliation procedure considerably extends the secure range of a continuous-variable quantum key distribution with Gaussian modulation.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols allow two trusted parties to distribute a cryptographic key which they can further use for the unconditionally secure classical communication. During the last decades the field has grown mature with the commercial prototypes being available. They mostly rely on the faint laser pulses implementing the protocols on the basis of single qubits and qubit pairs. Alternatively, the continuous-variable (CV) protocols based on the multi-photon states of light were developed recently. They are typically built using the quadrature modulation of the coherent or squeezed states and subsequent homodyne detection. In the case of Gaussian modulation the security of the protocols is based on the extremality of Gaussian states, which allows estimating bounds on the leaked information. The Gaussian CV QKD protocols were shown secure for any degree of channel attenuation, but are restricted by the channel noise. Moreover, the applicability of Gaussian CV QKD protocols is limited by the effectiveness of classical post-processing algorithms, used by the trusted parties to process the measured data and distill the cryptographic key. On the other hand, the squeezedstate CV QKD protocols were previously considered ineffective under limited degrees of squeezing, while strong squeezing remains experimentally challenging. In the present work we distinguish between the classical and quantum resources in the Gaussian CV QKD and address the role of nonclassicality in the Gaussian protocols. We demonstrate, that by properly combining squeezed resource and coherent modulation, trusted parties are able to decouple eavesdropper from the channel, thus being able to establish the secure key from any amount of the classical mutual information. Our result shows a very promising path towards the long-distance CV QKD.
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) enables remote users to share high-rate and unconditionally secure secret keys while maintaining compatibility with classical optical communication networks and effective resistance against background noise. However, CVQKD experiments have been demonstrated only indoors or over short outdoor distances. Here, by developing channel-fluctuation-independent high-precision manipulation of continuous-variable quantum states, high-accuracy quantum signal acquisition and processing, and high-efficiency free-space acquisition, tracking, and pointing technology, we overcome the excess noise due to atmospheric effects especially in daylight without extra wavelength conversion and narrow-linewidth spectral filtering and demonstrate for the first time long-distance free-space quantum key distribution under the asymptotic condition over 7-km inland and 9.6-km maritime atmospheric channels with Gaussian-modulated coherent states. Given that the CVQKD system is naturally compatible with existing ground fiber telecommunication networks, it marks an essential step for realizing integrated air-ground quantum access networks with cross-domain applications.
Secure communication protocols based on quantum physics compel worldwide attention. Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) uses a cost-effective detection technique instead of dedicated single-photon-counting technology, and can provide high key rates over metropolitan distances. Traditional coherent-state CV-QKD protocols, however, suffer from low tolerance of channel excess noise. The authors succeed in distributing Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled states over a 50-km standard fiber with negligible excess noise, and further demonstrate CV-QKD in a high-noise environment with performance superior to that of the optimized coherent-state protocol.