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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Wigner representation for experiments on quantum cryptography using two-photon polarization entanglement produced in parametric down-conversion

Alberto Casado, S. Guerra, J. Plácido

Published Feb 11, 2008• 22 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, the theory of parametric down-conversion in the Wigner representation is applied to Ekert's quantum cryptography protocol. We analyse the relation between two-photon entanglement and (non-secure) quantum key distribution within the Wigner framework in the Heisenberg picture. Experiments using two-qubit polarization entanglement generated in nonlinear crystals are analysed in this formalism, along with the effects of eavesdropping attacks in the case of projective measurements.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/41/4/045501

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In this paper, the theory of parametric down-conversion in the Wigner representation is applied to Ekert's quantum cryptography protocol. We analyse the relation between two-photon entanglement and (non-secure) quantum key distribution within the Wigner framework in the Heisenberg picture. Experiments using two-qubit polarization entanglement generated in nonlinear crystals are analysed in this formalism, along with the effects of eavesdropping attacks in the case of projective measurements.
Summary form only given. Quantum cryptography uses single photons to allow secure distribution of secret key material to sender and receiver, without the possibility of an undetected eavesdropper. In the protocol suggested by Ekert, each photon of a quantum-mechanically entangled pair is sent to the sender and receiver, who randomly measure the polarization in various bases. If the bases are the same, then sender and receiver will have completely correlated measurement results, which become the shared secret key. Other combinations of measurements are used to test Bell's inequalities, which limit the possible correlations achievable with any local realistic theory. The presence of an intermediate eavesdropper can be readily detected by an inability to violate Bell's inequality. Using the polarization-entangled photon pairs from a novel spontaneous parametric down-conversion source, we have experimentally implemented. Ekert's proposal.
We apply the Wigner formalism of quantum optics in the Heisenberg picture to study the role of the zeropoint field fluctuations in entanglement swapping produced via parametric down conversion. It is shown that the generation of mode entanglement between two initially non-interacting photons is related to the quadruple correlation properties of the electromagnetic field, through the stochastic properties of the vacuum. The relationship between the process of transferring entanglement and the different zeropoint inputs at the non-linear crystal and the Bell-state analyser is emphasized.
The Wigner representation is developed in the Heisenberg picture for the study of experiments involving photon pairs created in the process of parametric down conversion. After the general description of a light beam and the theory of detection (restricted here to single count probabilities in the Wigner formalism) the theory of parametric downconversion is developed to the point of calculating the autocorrelations of the signal and idler beams. Two recent experiments are analyzed in detail: frustrated two-photon creation by interference, and induced coherence and indistinguishability.
Using polarization-entangled photons from spontaneous parametric down-conversion, we have implemented Ekert's quantum cryptography protocol. The near-perfect correlations of the photons allow the sharing of a secret key between two parties. The presence of an eavesdropper is continually checked by measuring Bell's inequalities. We investigated several possible eavesdropper strategies, including pseudo-quantum-nondemolition measurements. In all cases, the eavesdropper's presence was readily apparent. We discuss a procedure to increase her detectability.
We apply the Wigner formalism of quantum optics to study the role of the zeropoint field fluctuations in entanglement swapping produced via parametric down conversion. It is shown that the generation of mode entanglement between two initially non interacting photons is related to the quadruple correlation properties of the electromagnetic field, through the stochastic properties of the vacuum. The relationship between the process of transferring entanglement and the different zeropoint inputs at the nonlinear crystal and the Bell-state analyser is emphasized.