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Scientific Reports

Long-distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution by controlling excess noise

Duan Huang, Peng Huang, Dakai Lin, Guihua Zeng

Published Jan 13, 2016• 394 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum cryptography founded on the laws of physics could revolutionize the way in which communication information is protected. Significant progresses in long-distance quantum key distribution based on discrete variables have led to the secure quantum communication in real-world conditions being available. However, the alternative approach implemented with continuous variables has not yet reached the secure distance beyond 100 km. Here, we overcome the previous range limitation by controlling system excess noise and report such a long distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution experiment. Our result paves the road to the large-scale secure quantum communication with continuous variables and serves as a stepping stone in the quest for quantum network.

DOI
10.1038/srep19201

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Quantum cryptography founded on the laws of physics could revolutionize the way in which communication information is protected. Significant progresses in long-distance quantum key distribution based on discrete variables have led to the secure quantum communication in real-world conditions being available. However, the alternative approach implemented with continuous variables has not yet reached the secure distance beyond 100 km. Here, we overcome the previous range limitation by controlling system excess noise and report such a long distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution experiment. Our result paves the road to the large-scale secure quantum communication with continuous variables and serves as a stepping stone in the quest for quantum network.
Quantum key distribution provides secure keys resistant to code-breaking quantum computers. The continuous-variable version of quantum key distribution offers the advantages of higher secret key rates in metropolitan areas, as well as the use of standard telecom components that can operate at room temperature. However, the transmission distance of these systems (compared with discrete-variable systems) are currently limited and considered unsuitable for long-distance distribution. Herein, we report the experimental results of long distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution over 202.81 km of ultralow-loss optical fiber by suitably controlling the excess noise and employing highly efficient reconciliation procedures. This record-breaking implementation of the continuous-variable quantum key distribution doubles the previous distance record and shows the road for long-distance and large-scale secure quantum key distribution using room-temperature standard telecom components.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables two remote parties to share encryption keys with security based on the laws of physics. Continuous-variable (CV) QKD with coherent states and coherent detection integrates well with existing telecommunication networks. Thus far, long-distance CV-QKD has only been demonstrated using a highly complex scheme where the local oscillator is transmitted, opening security loopholes for eavesdroppers and limiting potential applications. Here, we report a long-distance CV-QKD experiment with a locally generated local oscillator over a 100-kilometer fiber channel with a total loss of 15.4 decibels. This record-breaking distance is achieved by controlling the phase noise-induced excess noise through a machine learning framework for carrier recovery and optimizing the modulation variance. We implement the full CV-QKD protocol and demonstrate the generation of keys secure against collective attacks in the finite-size regime. Our results mark a substantial milestone for realizing CV quantum access networks with a high loss budget and pave the way for large-scale deployment of secure 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.
Quantum key distribution relying on the principles of quantum mechanics enables two parties to produce a shared random secret key, thereby ensuring the security of data transmission. Continuous variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) is widely applied because it can be well combined with standard telecommunication technology. Compared to CV-QKD with a transmitting local oscillator, the proposal of CV-QKD with a local local oscillator overcomes the limitation that local oscillator will attenuate as transmission distance increases, providing new possibilities in long-distance transmission. However, challenges still persist in practical long-distance transmission, including data sampling and recovery under low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In order to better recover data and reduce the additional excess noise, we propose the least squares fitting algorithm to get more accurate sampling data and complete more accurate phase compensation.Herein, we demonstrate the long-distance local local oscillator CV-QKD experiment which have considered the effect of finite-size block over 120 km of standard optical fiber with high efficient real-time post-processing. The results not only verify the good performance of the system over long distance, but also paves the way for large-scale quantum secure communications in the future.
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.
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.