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Device-Independent Quantum Information Processing

Antonio Acín

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Quantum Information Theory (QIT) studies how quantum effects can be used to design novel forms of information processing and transmission. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is the most mature quantum information application. We first introduce QIT and discuss the main concepts in QKD and the assumptions required for its security, and compare them with the classical alternatives. We then present the novel paradigm of Device-Independent Quantum Information Processing (DIQIP), in which the goal is to design information protocols whose performance does not depend on the devices used in their realization. We conclude by discussing two of the applications in this scenario: device-independent QKD and randomness generation.

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Quantum Information Theory (QIT) studies how quantum effects can be used to design novel forms of information processing and transmission. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is the most mature quantum information application. We first introduce QIT and discuss the main concepts in QKD and the assumptions required for its security, and compare them with the classical alternatives. We then present the novel paradigm of Device-Independent Quantum Information Processing (DIQIP), in which the goal is to design information protocols whose performance does not depend on the devices used in their realization. We conclude by discussing two of the applications in this scenario: device-independent QKD and randomness generation.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a provably secure way for two distant parties to establish a common secret key, which then can be used in a classical cryptographic scheme. Using quantum entanglement, one can reduce the necessary assumptions that the parties have to make about their devices, giving rise to device-independent QKD (DIQKD). However, in all existing protocols to date the parties need to have an initial (at least partially) random seed as a resource. In this work, we show that this requirement can be dropped. Using recent advances in the fields of randomness amplification and randomness expansion, we demonstrate that it is sufficient for the message the parties want to communicate to be (partially) unknown to the adversaries---an assumption without which any type of cryptography would be pointless to begin with. One party can use her secret message to locally generate a secret sequence of bits, which can then be openly used by herself and the other party in a DIQKD protocol. Hence our work reduces the requirements needed to perform secure DIQKD and establish safe communication.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, based on quantum uncertainty principle, no-cloning theorem and Heisenberg uncertainty principle, can generate information-theoretically secure keys for communication parties. Typical QKD systems include the quantum communication phase and the post-processing phase and can be divided into three families: Device Dependent QKD, Source-Device Independent QKD and Measurement-Device Independent QKD. Nowadays, QKD is already mature enough for real-life applications. High-speed, long-distance and multi-access QKD technologies and security patches against quantum hacking are both continuously research tendency of QKD in the future.
Quantum information science has completely changed the way we think about and process information. From the simple realization that information is physical, we have been able to use the peculiar features of quantum mechanical phenomena to our advantage. Designing algorithms whose performance exceeds those running on classical computers, and performing secret communication whose security can actually be proven from sound assumptions are two main catalysts for the establishment of the field. This thesis discusses some progress in quantum key distribution and quantum randomness generation. Quantum key distribution, which is motivated by the increasing need to communicate securely, is on the verge of becoming an established technology. With the goal of extending the reach of quantum key distribution to more realistic scenarios, we present a study on reference-frame-independent protocols whose knowledge can help design more efficient protocols, and a framework to the security analysis of distributed-phase-reference protocols, which have been missing for many years. This allows these protocols to be used in practice against the most general adversary, although the key rate is rather pessimistic. In quantum randomness generation, the amount of extractable randomness from a quantum system depends on the level of trust or characterization of the devices; we present a study into such interaction. In the extreme situation of distrust, i.e. device-independent scenarios, we study the effect of the input randomness on the certifying power of such scenarios, and realize that one cannot amplify an arbitrary min-entropy source device-independently. Finally we discuss the amount of randomness in post-selected data, which has consequences on practical randomness generation protocols. The in depth study of randomness generation from quantum processes is well justified by the important role of randomness in modern computer science and other fields.
Device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) is a key distribution scheme whose security is based on the laws of quantum physics but does not require any assumptions about the devices used in the protocol. The security of the existing entanglement-based DIQKD protocol relies on the Bell test. Here, we propose an efficient device-independent quantum key distribution (EDIQKD) protocol in which one participant prepares states and transmits them to another participant through a quantum channel to measure. In this prepare-and-measure protocol, the transmission process between participants is characterized according to the process tomography for security, ruling out any mimicry using the classical initial, transmission, and final state. Comparing the minimal number of bits of the raw key to guarantee security against collective attacks, the efficiency of the EDIQKD protocol is two orders of magnitude more than that of the DIQKD protocol for the reliable key of which quantum bit error rate is allowed up to 6.5\%. This advantage will enable participants to substantially conserve the entangled pair's demanded resources and the measurement. According to the highest detection efficiency in the recent most advanced photonic experiment, our protocol can be realized with a non-zero key rate and remains more efficient than usual DIQKD. Our protocol and its security analysis may offer helpful insight into identifying the typical prepare-and-measure quantum information tasks with the device-independent scenario.
Device-independent quantum key distribution (DI-QKD) is often seen as the ultimate key exchange protocol in terms of security, as it can be performed securely with uncharacterised black-box devices. The advent of DI-QKD closes several loopholes and side-channels that plague current QKD systems. While implementing DI-QKD protocols is technically challenging, there have been recent proof-of-principle demonstrations, resulting from the progress made in both theory and experiments. In this review, we will provide an introduction to DI-QKD, an overview of the related experiments performed, and the theory and techniques required to analyse its security. We conclude with an outlook on future DI-QKD research.