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Physical Review A

Decoy-state theory for the heralded single-photon source with intensity fluctuations

Shuang Wang, ShengLi Zhang, Hong-Wei Li, Zhen−Qiang Yin, Yibo Zhao, Wei Chen, Zheng‐Fu Han, Guang‐Can Guo

Published Jun 10, 2009• 22 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The secure key rates of decoy-state quantum key distribution (QKD) using the heralded single-photon source (HSPS) are recalculated in the case of intensity fluctuations. By numerical simulations, we show that the HSPS is a good source for decoy-state QKD experiments not only because it has larger upper bound of transmission distance than the usual weak-coherent source (WCS) but also because it is more robust against intensity fluctuations than the WCS.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.79.062309

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The secure key rates of decoy-state quantum key distribution (QKD) using the heralded single-photon source (HSPS) are recalculated in the case of intensity fluctuations. By numerical simulations, we show that the HSPS is a good source for decoy-state QKD experiments not only because it has larger upper bound of transmission distance than the usual weak-coherent source (WCS) but also because it is more robust against intensity fluctuations than the WCS.
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Weak coherent source (WCS) and spontaneous parametric down converted heralded single photon pairs have found applications in quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum imaging (QI) experiments. Decoy state methods have also been used to enhance the security for QKD and QI. We study quantum secured imaging with the decoy state heralded single photon source (HSPS). The HSPSs superior performance in low photon number regimes makes it an ideal candidate for integrating quantum key distribution protocols to reduce measurement uncertainty and ensure secure QI. Furthermore, our results also infer the influence of the decoy state WCS, due to its higher operating speed than decoy state HSPS, would be effective in conditions that allow higher mean photon numbers for quantum secured imaging.
Quantum key generation rate of decoy state quantum key distribution(QKD) with a heralded single-photon source(HSPS) is deduced.Relationship between quantum key generation rate and detection efficiency of sender is discussed.Optimal intensities and key generation rate of decoy state QKD with a weak coherent pulse(WCP) and an HSPS are analyzed.It shows that key generation rate increases with increase of detection efficiency of sender and its security distance is the same as with a perfect single photon source.Decoy state QKD increases security distance and key rate of QKD.Due to less dark counts QKD with HSPS works longer distance than WCP.
Recently, a long-distance and high-key-rate quantum key distribution (QKD) has become possible by the idea of the decoy state method. We show that a longer distance QKD is possible by utilizing a heralded single-photon source (HSPS) utilizing spontaneous parametric down-conversion as a source instead of a weak coherent pulse (WCP) as proposed in the original decoy state method. Moreover, the key rate is improved by utilizing a presently available photon number resolving detector as a trigger detector of the HSPS, and it is shown to approach the key rate of the WCP.
Recently the performance of the quantum key distribution (QKD) is substantially improved by the decoy state method and the non-orthogonal encoding protocol, separately. In this paper, a practical non-orthogonal decoy state protocol with a heralded single photon source (HSPS) for QKD is presented. The protocol is based on 4 states with different intensities, i.e. one signal state and three decoy states. The signal state is for generating keys; the decoy states are for detecting the eavesdropping and estimating the fraction of single-photon and two-photon pulses. We have discussed three cases of this protocol, i.e. the general case, the optimal case and the special case. Moreover, the final key rate over transmission distance is simulated. For the low dark count of the HSPS and the utilization of the two-photon pulses, our protocol has a higher key rate and a longer transmission distance than any other decoy state protocol.
Since the single photon is easy to attenuate and be disturbed, its key generation rate and transmission distance in quantum communication systems are generally limited. In contrast, weak coherent pulse (WCP) and heralded single photon source (HSPS) exhibit higher feasibility than the single photon source in quantum key distributions (QKD). We compare the performances of QKD using these two kinds of photon sources and decoy state method, incorporating data-postprocessing methods including the Lütkenhaus scheme and Gottesman-Lo-Lütkenhaus- Preskill (GLLP) scheme. Simulation results indicate that QKD using HSPS can transmit longer distance than using WCP with lower overall quantum bit error rate (QBER) at the same transmission distance, albeit with relatively low key generation rate.