Chinese Physics Letters

Polarization-Encoding-Based Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution with a Single Untrusted Source

Chuan-Qi Liu, Changhua Zhu, Lianhui Wang, Lin-Xi Zhang, Changxing Pei

Published Oct 1, 2016• 8 citations

Abstract

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) can be immune to all detector side-channel attacks and guarantee the information-theoretical security even with uncharacterized single photon detectors. MDI-QKD has been demonstrated in both laboratories and field-tests by using attenuated lasers combined with the decoy-state technique. However, it is a critical assumption that the sources used by legitimate participants are trusted in MDI-QKD. Hence, it is possible that a potential security risk exists. Here we propose a new scheme of polarization-encoding-based MDI-QKD with a single untrusted source, by which the complexity of the synchronization system can be reduced and the success rate of the Bell-state measurement can be improved. Meanwhile, the decoy-state method is employed to avoid the security issues introduced by a non-ideal single photon source. We also derive a security analysis of the proposed system. In addition, it seems to be a promising candidate for the implementation for QKD network in the near future.

DOI: 10.1088/0256-307x/33/10/100301

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