Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

International Conference on Computer Science and Application Engineering (CSAE)

Measurement-device-independent Quantum Key Distribution with Inaccurate Coherent Sources

Guodong Kang

Published Oct 21, 2019• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution is proposed to fight against all possible side channel detector attacks. The security of the original proposal relies on the assumption that the legitimate users can character their sources exactly, which might not be satisfied in practice. Here we propose a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution protocol with inaccurate coherent sources. The assumption is that legitimate users only have the knowledge that sources, for encoding, are coherent sources, while the accuracy of the encoding operation can not be controlled exactly. We give the security proofs for it under collective attacks, and simulation results of the security bound are also presented by employing parameters of current quantum key distribution experiments.

DOI
10.1145/3331453.3360972

Related papers

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution with uncharacterized qubit sources

Zhen−Qiang Yin, Chi‐Hang Fred Fung, Xiongfeng Ma +6 more

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDIQKD) is proposed to be secure against any possible detection attacks. The security of the original proposal relies on the assumption that the legitimate users can fully characterize the encoding systems including sources. Here, we propose a MDIQKD protocol where we allow uncharacterized encoding systems as long as qubit sources are used. A security proof of the MDIQKD protocol is presented that does not need the knowledge of the encoding states. Simulation results show that the scheme is practical.

arXiv:1309.3819•Physical Review A•Dec 18, 2013•65 citations

Practical Quantum Key Distribution That is Secure Against Side Channels

Álvaro Navarrete, Margarida Pereira, Marcos Curty +1 more

There is a large gap between theory and practice in quantum key distribution (QKD) because real devices do not satisfy the assumptions required by the security proofs. Here, we close this gap by introducing a simple and practical measurement-device-independent-QKD type of protocol, based on the transmission of coherent light, for which we prove its security against any possible imperfection and/or side channel from the quantum communication part of the QKD devices. Our approach only requires to experimentally characterize an upper bound of one single parameter for each of the pulses sent, which describes the quality of the source. Moreover, unlike device-independent (DI) QKD, it can accommodate information leakage from the users' laboratories, which is essential to guarantee the security of QKD implementations. In this sense, its security goes beyond that provided by DI QKD, yet it delivers a secret key rate that is various orders of magnitude greater than that of DI QKD.

arXiv:2007.03364•Physical Review Applied•Mar 24, 2021•29 citations

Improvement Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution with Imperfect Coherent Pulses

Guodong Kang, Xianke Wang, Jiaxin Wen +2 more

Abstract The security of the original measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), immune to all possible side channel detector attacks, is relied on the assumption that legitimate users, called Alice and Bob, can control their sources exactly. However, this might always not be satisfied in today’s state of the art. Later, one of us has proposed a MDI-QKD with uncharacterized coherent pulses, and shows that MDI-QKD can cover long distances securely with imperfect current sources. In this paper, relied on the basic imperfect sources assumption of the former work, we propose an improved one by applying a technique of imperfect phase region matching. We focus on deriving the bound of secrete key rate for this improved protocol, and simulation results show that the improved MDI-QKD can achieve much more better performances than the former one. It pushes the MDI-QKD a step forward to be more practical in more device independent scenario.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Sep 1, 2020•1 citation

One-sided measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Wen-Fei Cao, Yi-Zheng Zhen, Yu-Lin Zheng +4 more

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol was proposed to remove all the detector side channel attacks, while its security relies on the trusted encoding systems. Here we propose a one-sided MDI-QKD (1SMDI-QKD) protocol, which enjoys detection loophole-free advantage, and at the same time weakens the state preparation assumption in MDI-QKD. The 1SMDI-QKD can be regarded as a modified MDI-QKD, in which Bob's encoding system is trusted, while Alice's is uncharacterized. For the practical implementation, we also provide a scheme by utilizing coherent light source with an analytical two decoy state estimation method. Simulation with realistic experimental parameters shows that the protocol has a promising performance, and thus can be applied to practical QKD applications.

arXiv:1704.04371•Physical Review A•Jan 16, 2018•16 citations

A Security Proof of Measurement Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution: From the View of Information Theory

Fang-Yi Li, Zhen−Qiang Yin, Hong-Wei Li +5 more

Although some ideal quantum key distribution protocols have been proved to be secure, there have been some demonstrations that practical quantum key distribution implementations were hacked due to some real-life imperfections. Among these attacks, detector side channel attacks may be the most serious. Recently, a measurement device independent quantum key distribution protocol [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 (2012) 130503 ] was proposed and all detector side channel attacks are removed in this scheme. Here a new security proof based on quantum information theory is given. The eavesdropper's information of the sifted key bits is bounded. Then with this bound, the final secure key bit rate can be obtained.

Chinese Physics Letters•Jul 1, 2014•7 citations

Quantum key distribution with untrusted detectors

P. González, Lorena Rebón, Thiago Ferreira da Silva +6 more

Side-channel attacks currently constitute the main challenge for quantum key distribution (QKD) to bridge theory with practice. So far two main approaches have been introduced to address this problem, (full) device-independent QKD and measurement-device-independent QKD. Here we present a third solution that might exceed the performance and practicality of the previous two in circumventing detector side-channel attacks, which arguably is the most hazardous part of QKD implementations. Our proposal has, however, one main requirement: the legitimate users of the system need to ensure that their labs do not leak any unwanted information to the outside. The security in the low-loss regime is guaranteed, while in the high-loss regime we already prove its robustness against some eavesdropping strategies.

arXiv:1410.1422•Physical Review A•Aug 18, 2015•24 citations
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution is proposed to fight against all possible side channel detector attacks. The security of the original proposal relies on the assumption that the legitimate users can character their sources exactly, which might not be satisfied in practice. Here we propose a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution protocol with inaccurate coherent sources. The assumption is that legitimate users only have the knowledge that sources, for encoding, are coherent sources, while the accuracy of the encoding operation can not be controlled exactly. We give the security proofs for it under collective attacks, and simulation results of the security bound are also presented by employing parameters of current quantum key distribution experiments.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDIQKD) is proposed to be secure against any possible detection attacks. The security of the original proposal relies on the assumption that the legitimate users can fully characterize the encoding systems including sources. Here, we propose a MDIQKD protocol where we allow uncharacterized encoding systems as long as qubit sources are used. A security proof of the MDIQKD protocol is presented that does not need the knowledge of the encoding states. Simulation results show that the scheme is practical.
There is a large gap between theory and practice in quantum key distribution (QKD) because real devices do not satisfy the assumptions required by the security proofs. Here, we close this gap by introducing a simple and practical measurement-device-independent-QKD type of protocol, based on the transmission of coherent light, for which we prove its security against any possible imperfection and/or side channel from the quantum communication part of the QKD devices. Our approach only requires to experimentally characterize an upper bound of one single parameter for each of the pulses sent, which describes the quality of the source. Moreover, unlike device-independent (DI) QKD, it can accommodate information leakage from the users' laboratories, which is essential to guarantee the security of QKD implementations. In this sense, its security goes beyond that provided by DI QKD, yet it delivers a secret key rate that is various orders of magnitude greater than that of DI QKD.
Abstract The security of the original measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), immune to all possible side channel detector attacks, is relied on the assumption that legitimate users, called Alice and Bob, can control their sources exactly. However, this might always not be satisfied in today’s state of the art. Later, one of us has proposed a MDI-QKD with uncharacterized coherent pulses, and shows that MDI-QKD can cover long distances securely with imperfect current sources. In this paper, relied on the basic imperfect sources assumption of the former work, we propose an improved one by applying a technique of imperfect phase region matching. We focus on deriving the bound of secrete key rate for this improved protocol, and simulation results show that the improved MDI-QKD can achieve much more better performances than the former one. It pushes the MDI-QKD a step forward to be more practical in more device independent scenario.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol was proposed to remove all the detector side channel attacks, while its security relies on the trusted encoding systems. Here we propose a one-sided MDI-QKD (1SMDI-QKD) protocol, which enjoys detection loophole-free advantage, and at the same time weakens the state preparation assumption in MDI-QKD. The 1SMDI-QKD can be regarded as a modified MDI-QKD, in which Bob's encoding system is trusted, while Alice's is uncharacterized. For the practical implementation, we also provide a scheme by utilizing coherent light source with an analytical two decoy state estimation method. Simulation with realistic experimental parameters shows that the protocol has a promising performance, and thus can be applied to practical QKD applications.
Although some ideal quantum key distribution protocols have been proved to be secure, there have been some demonstrations that practical quantum key distribution implementations were hacked due to some real-life imperfections. Among these attacks, detector side channel attacks may be the most serious. Recently, a measurement device independent quantum key distribution protocol [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 (2012) 130503 ] was proposed and all detector side channel attacks are removed in this scheme. Here a new security proof based on quantum information theory is given. The eavesdropper's information of the sifted key bits is bounded. Then with this bound, the final secure key bit rate can be obtained.
Side-channel attacks currently constitute the main challenge for quantum key distribution (QKD) to bridge theory with practice. So far two main approaches have been introduced to address this problem, (full) device-independent QKD and measurement-device-independent QKD. Here we present a third solution that might exceed the performance and practicality of the previous two in circumventing detector side-channel attacks, which arguably is the most hazardous part of QKD implementations. Our proposal has, however, one main requirement: the legitimate users of the system need to ensure that their labs do not leak any unwanted information to the outside. The security in the low-loss regime is guaranteed, while in the high-loss regime we already prove its robustness against some eavesdropping strategies.