Science Advances

Simultaneous transmission of information and key exchange using the same photonic quantum states

Dong Pan, Yu-Chen Liu, Peng-Hao Niu, Haoran Zhang, Feihao Zhang, Min Wang, Xiaotian Song, Xiu-Wei Chen, Chao Zheng, Gui‐Lu Long

Published Feb 21, 2025• 50 citations

Publisher

Abstract

Quantum communication realizes information-theoretic security using photonic quantum states, for example, quantum secure direct communication (QSDC), which can achieve secure and reliable communication in a channel with both noise and eavesdroppers. However, QSDC suffers from large losses and short communication distances, thus being impractical for applications. Here, we have proposed a one-way quasi-QSDC protocol with single photons. This protocol enables the simultaneous transmission of information and key exchange using the same single photons and is robust against loss and error because it uses error correction and spectrum expansion techniques. In a proof-of-principle demonstration using weak coherent pulses, the system achieved a real-time secure transmission rate of 2.38 kilobits per second over a 104.8-kilometer standard telecommunication fiber, which set world records in both aspects. This system paved the way for the practical application of QSDC and offers a unique method to detect eavesdropping online, which is crucial in certain circumstances.

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adt4627

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