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Laser Physics Letters

Active basis choice for quantum key distribution with entangled states

P M Vinetskaya, Konstantin Kravtsov, N. A. Borshchevskaya, Andrey N. Klimov, S. P. Kulik

Published Mar 20, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Entangled quantum key distribution (QKD) is a promising way to generate pairs of unconditionally secret keys. In this paper we review possible realizations of entanglement-based QKD and assess their feasibility in terms of implementation complexity and provided security. We also propose a novel active basis choice approach that enables to use only one single-photon detector per user. The paper provides all necessary details including the required electro-optic crystal configurations to implement such a scheme experimentally.

DOI
10.1088/1612-202x/acc246

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Abstract Entangled quantum key distribution (QKD) is a promising way to generate pairs of unconditionally secret keys. In this paper we review possible realizations of entanglement-based QKD and assess their feasibility in terms of implementation complexity and provided security. We also propose a novel active basis choice approach that enables to use only one single-photon detector per user. The paper provides all necessary details including the required electro-optic crystal configurations to implement such a scheme experimentally.
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Abstract Most modern cryptographic mechanisms are often based on the key distribution schemes, the security of which depends on the computational complexity and the power used to break the encryption. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is gaining popularity as a panacea to the issue of secure key distribution due to its ability to show secret keys' information-theoretic protection that is already suitable for commercialization. The goal is to generate a secret key between trusted parties connected through a quantum channel and an authenticated classical channel. The technology promises unconditional secure communication based on the principles of quantum mechanics without limiting the power of an eavesdropper. The first three sections provide a contemporary review of the Quantum Key Distribution in a nutshell. The remaining part of the paper deals with the key parameters and implementations that have been developed to assess the security of the leading experimental platforms and the challenges with respect to the development of this technology such as optimally overlaying the logic gates via quantum-dot cellular automata, which also creates possible avenues for research in the cryptographic domain.
Entanglement-based quantum key distribution (e-QKD) is a cornerstone of quantum-secure communication, offering advantages in device-independent security, compatibility with quantum networks, and resilience to specific attacks. While the probabilistic nature of entangled photon generation has slowed down experimental adoption compared to prepare-and-measure approaches, deterministic solid-state emitters—particularly epitaxial quantum dots (QDs)—have recently emerged as promising candidates for scalable, high-rate implementations. In this review, we survey the main e-QKD protocols along with their practical requirements and assess current technologies for entangled photon pair generation. We place particular emphasis on the state of the art in QD-based entangled photon sources, analyzing design strategies and performance metrics that directly impact secure key generation. Recent experimental advances demonstrating entanglement distribution and e-QKD with QDs over both fiber and free-space channels are discussed in detail. We conclude with an outlook on remaining challenges in source engineering, transmission capacity, and system integration, highlighting the potential of QDs to enable next-generation quantum communication technologies.
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In general, generation of entangled photon pairs and also the random choice of measurement basis can be implemented with passive optical devices in entanglement based quantum key distribution (QKD) system. However, auxiliary random numbers are still mandatory for conducting the privacy amplification procedure. In this paper, we propose a fully passive entanglement based QKD scheme in which certified random bits for privacy amplification are extracted from detection events of measurement-basis-mismatched entangled photon pairs. The privacy of these random bits can be certified by estimating the phase error rate in the sifted key. The idea of extracting certified random numbers from measurement-basis-mismatched photons, can be extended to all practical QKD schemes.
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