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Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

Experimental demonstration of intensity-modulation/direct-detection secret key distribution

Naoki Yamamori, Kyo Inoue

Published Feb 1, 2020• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Quantum key distribution, that transmits single-photons or strongly attenuated coherent light, has been studied for secret-key cryptography. This paper experimentally demonstrates a novel key distribution scheme, where a transmitter sends slightly intensity-modulated light with a power level used in conventional fiber communication systems and a receiver directly detects it with a conventional photodiode followed by threshold processing. Its security relies on that the slight intensity modulation is masked by quantum noise. Experiments are presented, which demonstrate that such slight modulation is feasible in practice and a secret key is actually created. The present key distribution scheme employs a setup similar to that in conventional optical communication, featuring practicality.

DOI
10.35848/1347-4065/ab6e11

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Abstract Quantum key distribution, that transmits single-photons or strongly attenuated coherent light, has been studied for secret-key cryptography. This paper experimentally demonstrates a novel key distribution scheme, where a transmitter sends slightly intensity-modulated light with a power level used in conventional fiber communication systems and a receiver directly detects it with a conventional photodiode followed by threshold processing. Its security relies on that the slight intensity modulation is masked by quantum noise. Experiments are presented, which demonstrate that such slight modulation is feasible in practice and a secret key is actually created. The present key distribution scheme employs a setup similar to that in conventional optical communication, featuring practicality.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) has been studied for achieving perfectly secure cryptography based on quantum mechanics. This paper presents a novel QKD scheme that is based on an intensity-modulation and direct-detection system. Two slightly intensity-modulated pulses are sent from a transmitter, and a receiver determines key bits from the directly detected intensity. We analyzed the system performance for two typical eavesdropping methods, a beam splitting attack and an intercept-resend attack, with an assumption that the transmitting and receiving devices are fully trusted. Our brief analysis showed that short- or middle-range QKD systems are achievable with a simple setup.
Since it was noted that quantum computers could break public key cryptosystems based on number theory, extensive studies have been undertaken on quantum cryptography, which offers unconditionally secure communication based on quantum mechanics. We investigate a quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme using macroscopic coherent light with optically pre-amplified direct differential detection. A transmitter “Alice” sends a series of two macroscopic nonorthogonal coherent states that partially overlap due to quantum noise. A receiver “Bob” amplifies and receives it with direct differential detection followed by a thresholding process. To avoid difficulties in detection, our scheme uses conventional direct differential photodetection, not single-photon detection or homodyne detection as in previous QKD protocols. System performance assuming some eavesdropping is evaluated, the results of which suggest that our scheme is usable for short or medium distance.
In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept experimental demonstration of the secret key quantum cryptographic scheme. A tabletop communication link was set up in the free-space channel using ordinary lasers as transmitters, which emit coherent states of light, and quantum-limited direct detection was employed in the receivers. In the secret key scheme, one needs a supply of M possible quantum states that are uniformly distributed over some random variable. In the free-space case, we used polarization angle as the variable determining the state. In the proof-of-concept emonstration, we aimed towards sending data messages encrypted with a short secret key from the transmitter to the receiver. The messages could be successfully deciphered by the receiver by its knowledge of the secret key. However, when the secret key was taken away, in order to mimic an eavesdropper, the messages could not be deciphered.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a technology that allows two users to communicate with theoretically perfect security using standard optical fibres. This is possible by transmitting the key on single photons, meaning a measurement by an eavesdropper disturbs the system in a way observable to the legitimate parties. The technology has advanced since the first protocol proposed in 1984, to the stage where there are now many protocols that can be experimentally implemented. These protocols have allowed secure keys to be generated over distances greater than 400 km and with secure key rates over 10 Mbit/s. In a metropolitan QKD network, it would be desirable for as many users to be connected as possible. Unfortunately, each protocol comes with different requirements on the transmitter and receiver. Even within a single protocol, different clock rates can require individualised transmitter and receiver hardware. This prohibits users from communicating with all receivers, unless they have complex transmitters with hardware for many protocols. This thesis develops a transmitter for practical QKD that is able to adapt to a number of different protocols with no changes to the hardware. The transmitter works using optical injection locking, where a pulse preparation laser adopts the phase of a phase preparation laser. Controlling the phase and intensity of the pulses in this way removes the side channel ordinarily present with direct modulation, in that the phase, intensity and frequency simultaneously change in response to an applied current. The cavity-enhanced electro-optic effect allows for the first demonstration of sub-volt half-wave phase modulation at high clock rates. The transmitter successfully demonstrates phase encoding, intensity encoding and on-demand phase randomisation. This allows for the experimental realisation and direct comparison of different QKD protocols, including one that has never before been implemented due to experimental complexity. A stable intensity modulator is also developed, based on a Sagnac interferometer. This removes a side channel in QKD systems and integrates well with the directly-modulated quantum transmitter. This development also means that the transmitter can implement all current two-party QKD protocols based on weak coherent pulses. The transmitter has the potential to become the standard transmitter for future quantum communication networks due to its stability, versatility and power efficiency. The design could also be demonstrated on a photonic chip, making it compact enough to fit in small transmitter units.
Abstract Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows two distant parties to share secret keys with the proven security even in the presence of an eavesdropper with unbounded computational power. Recently, GHz-clock decoy QKD systems have been realized by employing ultrafast optical communication devices. However, security loopholes of high-speed systems have not been fully explored yet. Here we point out a security loophole at the transmitter of the GHz-clock QKD, which is a common problem in high-speed QKD systems using practical band-width limited devices. We experimentally observe the inter-pulse intensity correlation and modulation pattern-dependent intensity deviation in a practical high-speed QKD system. Such correlation violates the assumption of most security theories. We also provide its countermeasure which does not require significant changes of hardware and can generate keys secure over 100 km fiber transmission. Our countermeasure is simple, effective and applicable to wide range of high-speed QKD systems, and thus paves the way to realize ultrafast and security-certified commercial QKD systems.