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IEEE photonics journal

Side-Channel Free Measurement-Device- Independent Quantum Key Distribution Based on Source Monitoring

Wenlin Wang, Xingyu Zhou, Ming-Shuo Sun, Chunhui Zhang, Qin Wang

Published Aug 21, 2023• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Measurement-device-independent quantum key dis-tribution (MDI-QKD) can remove all detector side-channel attacks. However, there are still some assumptions on source preparations in MDI-QKD protocols, which are too strict to achieve in real-life implementations. To remove those assump-tions, here we construct a scheme on characterizing the source modulation errors with Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferences. Furthermore, we combine it with the decoy-state method and present the security analysis. Besides, finite data-size effects are taken into account as well. Simulation results verify the feasibility and practicability of this scheme. It thus seems a very promising candidate for constructing high-security network in the near future.

DOI
10.1109/jphot.2023.3307169

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Measurement-device-independent quantum key dis-tribution (MDI-QKD) can remove all detector side-channel attacks. However, there are still some assumptions on source preparations in MDI-QKD protocols, which are too strict to achieve in real-life implementations. To remove those assump-tions, here we construct a scheme on characterizing the source modulation errors with Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferences. Furthermore, we combine it with the decoy-state method and present the security analysis. Besides, finite data-size effects are taken into account as well. Simulation results verify the feasibility and practicability of this scheme. It thus seems a very promising candidate for constructing high-security network in the near future.
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.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) with the active decoy state method can remove all detector loopholes, and resist the imperfections of sources. But it may lead to side channel attacks and break the security of QKD system. In this paper, we apply the passive decoy state method to the MDI-QKD based on polarization encoding mode. Not only all attacks on detectors can be removed, but also the side channel attacks on sources can be overcome. We get that the MDI-QKD with our passive decoy state method can have a performance comparable to the protocol with the active decoy state method. To fit for the demand of practical application, we discuss intensity fluctuation in the security analysis of MDI-QKD protocol using passive decoy state method, and derive the key generation rate for our protocol with intensity fluctuation. It shows that intensity fluctuation has an adverse effect on the key generation rate which is non-negligible, especially in the case of small data size of total transmitting signals and long distance transmission. We give specific simulations on the relationship between intensity fluctuation and the key generation rate. Furthermore, the statistical fluctuation due to the finite length of data is also taken into account.
Abstract Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), a key protocol in quantum communication, can eliminates measurement-device vulnerabilities. In practical implementations, however, imperfect encoding modulation may introduce side-channel information leakage, while channel loss significantly reduces the coincidence count rate in Bell-state measurements, thereby limiting both the achievable secret key rate and transmission distance. To address these issues, we propose a memory-assisted MDI-QKD scheme with Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM)-based source monitoring. The HOM-based monitoring mechanism enables source-side characterization of state-preparation imperfections and provides rigorous security constraints for secret key rate estimation, while the quantum memory enhances the effective two-photon interference probability and improves the success rate of Bell-state measurements. Numerical simulations show that the proposed scheme outperforms conventional source-monitoring-assisted MDI-QKD schemes without quantum memories in both secret key rate and transmission distance, highlighting its potential for practical long-distance quantum communication.
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.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is designed to be secure against any detector-side channel attacks. However, assumption of characterized sources in preparation is a demanding requirement and can not be fully satisfied in real-life implementations. Luckily, by utilizing the data of mismatched bases, the system can even generate secure keys with uncharacterized sources. Here, we give a framework on investigating the practical performance of an improved MDI-QKD with uncharacterized sources, where the three-intensity decoy-state method is employed and full parameter optimizations are applied. Simulation results show that the improved method can significantly enhance the performance compared with the original MDI-QKD with uncharacterized sources.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), which is immune to all detector side-channel attacks, is the most promising solution to the security issues in practical quantum key distribution systems. Although several experimental demonstrations of MDI-QKD have been reported, they all make one crucial but not yet verified assumption, that is, there are no flaws in state preparation. Such an assumption is unrealistic and security loopholes remain in the source. Here we present a MDI-QKD experiment with the modulation error taken into consideration. By applying the loss-tolerant security proof by Tamaki et al. [Phys. Rev. A 90, 052314 (2014)], we distribute secure keys over fiber links up to 40 km with imperfect sources, which would not have been possible under previous security proofs. By simultaneously closing loopholes at the detectors and a critical loophole---modulation error in the source, our work shows the feasibility of secure QKD with practical imperfect devices.