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arXiv:2307.01834 · Laser Physics Letters

Security of entanglement-based QKD with realistic parametric down-conversion sources

Konstantin Kravtsov

Published Jul 7, 2023• 8 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract The paper analyzes security aspects of practical entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD), namely, BBM92 or entanglement-based BB84 protocol. Similar to prepare-and-measure QKD protocols, practical implementations of the entanglement-based QKD have to rely upon non-ideal photon sources. A typical solution for entanglement generation is the spontaneous parametric down-conversion. However, this process creates not only single photon pairs, but also quantum states with more than two photons, which potentially may lead to security deterioration. We show that this effect does not impair the security of entanglement-based QKD systems. We also review the available security proofs and show that properties of the entanglement source have nothing to do with security degradation.

DOI
10.1088/1612-202x/ace2b5

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Abstract The paper analyzes security aspects of practical entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD), namely, BBM92 or entanglement-based BB84 protocol. Similar to prepare-and-measure QKD protocols, practical implementations of the entanglement-based QKD have to rely upon non-ideal photon sources. A typical solution for entanglement generation is the spontaneous parametric down-conversion. However, this process creates not only single photon pairs, but also quantum states with more than two photons, which potentially may lead to security deterioration. We show that this effect does not impair the security of entanglement-based QKD systems. We also review the available security proofs and show that properties of the entanglement source have nothing to do with security degradation.
We theoretically analyze the feasibility of entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols [1], [2], considering both spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) and quantum dot (QD) sources. We account for multiphoton emission in SPDC sources and fine-structure splitting (FSS) in QD. In addition, we incorporate imperfect detection, including dark counts and limited efficiency. For SPDC sources, we confirm the presence of vacuum and multiphoton pairs renders them unsuitable for secure device-independent (DI) QKD implementations. Conversely, with QD sources, accounting for the effects of FSS results in reduced secret key rates compared to ideal conditions. Our findings are crucial for the practical implementation of entanglement-based QKD protocols using realistic sources and detectors.
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A simple protocol which takes advantage of the inherent random times of detections in single photon counting modules is presented for random active basis choices when using entanglement-based protocols for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). It may also be applicable to the BB84 protocol in certain cases. The scheme presented uses the single photon detectors already present on a QKD setup, working on the same rate as the system is capable of detecting, and is, therefore, not limited by the output rates of quantum random number generators. This protocol only requires small hardware modifications making it an attractive solution. We perform a proof-of-principle experiment employing a spontaneous parametric down-conversion process in a χ(2)\chi^{(2)}χ(2) non-linear crystal to demonstrate the feasibility of our scheme, and show that the generated sequence passes randomness tests.
We theoretically analyse the relation between non-Gaussianity and security of entanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols, namely device-independent (DI) and entanglement-based BB848484. A similar analysis has already been made for prepare-and-measure (P\&M) protocols \cite{Lasota2017}. In addition, we consider imperfect detection with dark counts and limited efficiency. We assume a perfect source of entangled Bell states as produced by quantum-dot type sources, depolarisation in the channel and different noise statistics, namely thermal and Poissonian. We consider single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPAD) and photon number resolving detectors (PNRD) and use their respective criteria for non-Gaussianity. The results show cross-regions for both security and non-Gaussianity, hence, the possibility to conclude about the suitability of a given channel for secret key distribution. Our results can be useful as a pre-check for the implementation of QKD protocols.
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