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

Europhysics Letters (EPL)

Cryptography with stochastic photons

R. N. Shakhmuratov, Зиннатуллин А.Л., Farit G. Vagizov

Published Jul 16, 2024• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Quantum cryptography protocols are based on the use of quantum objects with at least two orthogonal states, for example, the polarization states of a photon. We propose a completely different cryptography protocol using a stochastic flow of single photons. Our method is based on the stochastic decay of an ensemble of radioactive nuclei randomly emitting a stream of γ -photons. We have experimentally demonstrated the transmission of classical information containing binary bits. Reading this information requires precise knowledge of the repetition rate of its sending. Otherwise, it is impossible to make the transmitted information visible, since it will be lost in the noise.

DOI
10.1209/0295-5075/ad63c8

Related papers

Gamma-protocol for secure transmission of information

R. N. Shakhmuratov, Зиннатуллин А.Л., Farit G. Vagizov

Secure communication that allows only the sender and intended recipient of a message to view its content has a long history. Quantum objects, such as single photons are ideal carriers for secure information transmission because, according to the no-cloning theorem [1], it is impossible to create an identical and independent copy of an arbitrary quantum state while its detection leads to the information distortion. BB84 [2,3] is the first quantum cryptography protocol for a quantum key generation and distribution, based on single photon sources. This quantum key is used for coding and decoding of classical information. We propose completely different protocol based on a stochastic decay of an ensemble of radioactive nuclei randomly emitting a stream of gamma-photons. We experimentally demonstrate a method how to transmit classical information containing binary bits (0 or 1) with the help of this stream. Transmission is organized such that eavesdropping is impossible since the presence of information in the stream of randomly emitted gamma-photons can be hidden. Reading of this information needs precise knowledge of the repetition rate of its sending in advance. It is unrealistic for the eavesdropper to disclose this rate, and without knowledge of this parameter it is impossible to make the transmitted information visible.

arXiv:2405.08610•May 14, 2024•0 citations

Quantum Cryptography Based on Split Transmission of One-Bit Information in Two Steps

Masato Koashi, Nobuyuki Imoto

We propose a simple quantum cryptographic scheme involving truly two orthogonal states. The security of the protocol is based on splitting the transfer of one-bit information into two steps, ensuring that only a fraction of the bit information is transmitted at a time. A particular implementation with an asymmetric interferometer is presented, which does not require the random timing of the packet sending as was used by Goldenberg and Vaidman [Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 1239 (1995)].

Physical Review Letters•Sep 22, 1997•137 citations

Heisenberg, Bell, and experimental quantum cryptography

John Rarity, P. C. M. Owens, P. R. Tapster

When single photons are used to code for individual bits, security can be guaranteed by exploiting Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Binary information can be coded into two orthogonal states, such as polarization or relative phase (in an interferometer). To receive this information we require an analyzer able to discriminate between the two states in an error-free way. In a linear-polarization system a polarizing beam splitter is used with its axes aligned to the two possible polarization directions. However, using a polarizer at 45° to these directions will ensure a random output uncorrelated to the single-photon-coded bit stream. The principle of secure key sharing, or quantum cryptography, is that a random bit stream is encoded onto individual photons while randomly switching the coding basis between the 0° and 45° polarization bases (in general, any non-orthogonal measurement bases). The receiver also randomly switches between these basis, and information is shared only when a photon is received and the same basis is used for coding and for measurement. An initial experiment of this type was carried out by using faint pulses of polarized visible light over a 40-cm transmission distance.1

•May 8, 1994•0 citations

Quantum Cryptography with Photon Pairs

B. Hüttner, Asher Peres

Photons, randomly prepared in one of two non-orthogonal quantum states, are used for a cryptographic key distribution. If the receiver tests them one by one, he may either identify their state, or get an inconclusive (useless) result. If he tests them pairwise, he may also obtain information about their parity (whether or not they have the same state), without identifying each signal separately. While this procedure does not give a higher rate of information transmission, the parity-generated bits are more sensitive to attacks by an eavesdropper than bits obtained from single photons.

Journal of Modern Optics•Dec 1, 1994•14 citations

Experimental System for Quantum Cryptography Based on Two Nonorthogonal Photon Polarization States

Yong Zhang, Le Deng, Min Mao +1 more

Quantum cryptography allows the establishing of a highly confidential sequence of random bits between two parties who share no secret information in advance. Its security is guaranteed by the basic laws of quantum mechanics rather than mathematical difficulty. An experimental system based on a novel protocol for quantum cryptography using only two nonorthogonal photon polarization states is implemented. The photon sources are two semiconductor laser diodes operated at 680 nm, their light pulses which are heavily attenuated to far below one photon per pulse are employed to encode the key. Gated single photon detection technique is used to minimize the dark count effect of the photon multiplier tube. Key establishing rate of 40 b/s and error rate of 2.1% are obtained. Compared with other systems, our system has the simplest experimental setup.

Chinese Physics Letters•Apr 1, 1998•13 citations

Efficient Quantum Cryptography Network without Entanglement and Quantum Memory

Chunyan Li, Xihan Li, Deng Fu-Guo +3 more

An efficient quantum cryptography network protocol is proposed with d -dimensional polarized photons, without resorting to entanglement and quantum memory. A server on the network, say Alice, provides the service for preparing and measuring single photons whose initial state are |0⟩. The users code the information on the single photons with some unitary operations. To prevent the untrustworthy server Alice from eavesdropping the quantum lines, a nonorthogonal-coding technique is used in the process that the quantum signal is transmitted between the users. This protocol does not require the servers and the users to store the quantum states and almost all of the single photons can be used for carrying the information, which makes it more convenient for application than others with present technology. We also discuss the case with a faint laser pulse.

arXiv:0705.1748•Chinese Physics Letters•Oct 26, 2006•167 citations
Abstract Quantum cryptography protocols are based on the use of quantum objects with at least two orthogonal states, for example, the polarization states of a photon. We propose a completely different cryptography protocol using a stochastic flow of single photons. Our method is based on the stochastic decay of an ensemble of radioactive nuclei randomly emitting a stream of γ -photons. We have experimentally demonstrated the transmission of classical information containing binary bits. Reading this information requires precise knowledge of the repetition rate of its sending. Otherwise, it is impossible to make the transmitted information visible, since it will be lost in the noise.
Secure communication that allows only the sender and intended recipient of a message to view its content has a long history. Quantum objects, such as single photons are ideal carriers for secure information transmission because, according to the no-cloning theorem [1], it is impossible to create an identical and independent copy of an arbitrary quantum state while its detection leads to the information distortion. BB84 [2,3] is the first quantum cryptography protocol for a quantum key generation and distribution, based on single photon sources. This quantum key is used for coding and decoding of classical information. We propose completely different protocol based on a stochastic decay of an ensemble of radioactive nuclei randomly emitting a stream of gamma-photons. We experimentally demonstrate a method how to transmit classical information containing binary bits (0 or 1) with the help of this stream. Transmission is organized such that eavesdropping is impossible since the presence of information in the stream of randomly emitted gamma-photons can be hidden. Reading of this information needs precise knowledge of the repetition rate of its sending in advance. It is unrealistic for the eavesdropper to disclose this rate, and without knowledge of this parameter it is impossible to make the transmitted information visible.
When single photons are used to code for individual bits, security can be guaranteed by exploiting Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Binary information can be coded into two orthogonal states, such as polarization or relative phase (in an interferometer). To receive this information we require an analyzer able to discriminate between the two states in an error-free way. In a linear-polarization system a polarizing beam splitter is used with its axes aligned to the two possible polarization directions. However, using a polarizer at 45° to these directions will ensure a random output uncorrelated to the single-photon-coded bit stream. The principle of secure key sharing, or quantum cryptography, is that a random bit stream is encoded onto individual photons while randomly switching the coding basis between the 0° and 45° polarization bases (in general, any non-orthogonal measurement bases). The receiver also randomly switches between these basis, and information is shared only when a photon is received and the same basis is used for coding and for measurement. An initial experiment of this type was carried out by using faint pulses of polarized visible light over a 40-cm transmission distance.1
Photons, randomly prepared in one of two non-orthogonal quantum states, are used for a cryptographic key distribution. If the receiver tests them one by one, he may either identify their state, or get an inconclusive (useless) result. If he tests them pairwise, he may also obtain information about their parity (whether or not they have the same state), without identifying each signal separately. While this procedure does not give a higher rate of information transmission, the parity-generated bits are more sensitive to attacks by an eavesdropper than bits obtained from single photons.
Quantum cryptography allows the establishing of a highly confidential sequence of random bits between two parties who share no secret information in advance. Its security is guaranteed by the basic laws of quantum mechanics rather than mathematical difficulty. An experimental system based on a novel protocol for quantum cryptography using only two nonorthogonal photon polarization states is implemented. The photon sources are two semiconductor laser diodes operated at 680 nm, their light pulses which are heavily attenuated to far below one photon per pulse are employed to encode the key. Gated single photon detection technique is used to minimize the dark count effect of the photon multiplier tube. Key establishing rate of 40 b/s and error rate of 2.1% are obtained. Compared with other systems, our system has the simplest experimental setup.
An efficient quantum cryptography network protocol is proposed with d -dimensional polarized photons, without resorting to entanglement and quantum memory. A server on the network, say Alice, provides the service for preparing and measuring single photons whose initial state are |0⟩. The users code the information on the single photons with some unitary operations. To prevent the untrustworthy server Alice from eavesdropping the quantum lines, a nonorthogonal-coding technique is used in the process that the quantum signal is transmitted between the users. This protocol does not require the servers and the users to store the quantum states and almost all of the single photons can be used for carrying the information, which makes it more convenient for application than others with present technology. We also discuss the case with a faint laser pulse.