Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a technology for secure communication between two parties, using the principles of quantum mechanics. Our continuous-variable QKD experiment implements a fiber-based scheme connecting two laboratories in two separated buildings (building A and B). We set up an Gaussian continuous-variable entanglement source in building A, consisting of two squeeze lasers to generate two-mode squeezed states. They are shared between the two buildings via a 1 km optical fiber. In both buildings, the entangled states are measured with self-designed and self-built balanced homodyne detectors. Due to the entanglement, the results are quantum random (truly random) but also correlated and can be used to generate a secret key. Attacks on the channel as well as on devices in building B reduce the entanglement strength and can thus be quantified. A major challenge in this setup is the phase stabilization and measurement synchronization between the two buildings. The fibers pick up extra noise, such as seismic and acoustic and experience temperature drifts. In this work, I will introduce the experiment, discuss the problem of phase noise and our approach to a control scheme. The first results with squeezed (not entangled) states show promising results for a phase lock of entangled states.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a technology for secure communication between two parties, using the principles of quantum mechanics. Our continuous-variable QKD experiment implements a fiber-based scheme connecting two laboratories in two separated buildings (building A and B). We set up an Gaussian continuous-variable entanglement source in building A, consisting of two squeeze lasers to generate two-mode squeezed states. They are shared between the two buildings via a 1 km optical fiber. In both buildings, the entangled states are measured with self-designed and self-built balanced homodyne detectors. Due to the entanglement, the results are quantum random (truly random) but also correlated and can be used to generate a secret key. Attacks on the channel as well as on devices in building B reduce the entanglement strength and can thus be quantified. A major challenge in this setup is the phase stabilization and measurement synchronization between the two buildings. The fibers pick up extra noise, such as seismic and acoustic and experience temperature drifts. In this work, I will introduce the experiment, discuss the problem of phase noise and our approach to a control scheme. The first results with squeezed (not entangled) states show promising results for a phase lock of entangled states.
One-sided device-independent Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) targets a mathematically proven secure communication between two parties without the need to trust the devices on one side. An appealing kind of high-speed implementation uses GHz-bandwidth two-mode squeezed states, distributed via an optical fiber link. The remote measurements, however, require the precise control of the phase with respect to an optical homodyne local oscillator. Here, we report what is believed to be the first transmission of single-mode squeezed vacuum states with GHz bandwidth over a 1 km optical fiber into a neighboring building combined with phase-stabilized measurements. We directly measure a squeeze factor of up to 4 dB. Our result is an important step towards high-speed QKD with enhanced security level for km-scale areas, e.g., government districts.
Transmission and accurate detection of squeezed states of light will play a central role in the future quantum internet, where quantum cryptography, communication and computation will coexist in an organic system. Their coherent detection has recently proven to be crucial for photonics-based quantum computing [1] , and to provide improvements in continuous variables quantum key distribution [2] [6] and quantum sensing [3] . Often when measuring a quantum state through coherent detection, the local oscillator field is transmitted along with the signal; however, in realistic long-distance optical fiber transmissions, where the needed local oscillator optical power increases exponentially with the distance, the system’s performance deteriorates due to nonlinear Brillouin scattering, and wavelength multiplexing schemes may be needed to avoid the issue. Moreover, transmitting a local oscillator opens security loopholes in quantum key distribution systems, where an eavesdropper can defy the security assessment from the trusted parties by gaining control over the local oscillator [4] . It is therefore very important to design coherent detection schemes that make use of independent local oscillators. We demonstrate the transmission single-mode squeezed light at 1550 nm wavelength through single-mode optical fibers (10 m and 10 km lengths) and its homodyne detection, using an independent local oscillator and a real-time phase-control system. Fig. 1a depicts the implemented physical setup: 1550 nm squeezed light is generated through spontaneous parametric downconversion [5] , couples into a single-mode optical fiber and propagates towards the homodyne detector for quadrature measurement. Real-time phase control consists in detecting the interference between a 40 MHz single-sideband pilot mode -phase-locked to the downconverted pump- and the local oscillator, estimating their instantaneous phase difference and implementing a fast and broad FPGA-based phase control on the local oscillator. As shown in Fig. 1b and 1c, with the presented scheme it was possible to steadily measure up to 3.6 dB of squeezing after a 10 m optical fiber transmission, and up to 1.5 dB of squeezing after a 10 km fiber transmission, with similar performance in terms of phase error and control stability. The presented system is simple, robust and cost-effective, and it will represent a standard class of techniques to detect not only squeezed states of light, but any arbitrary quantum state of light, including Schrödinger cat states, highly useful in quantum computation and error correction.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) can remove all side-channel attacks on detectors. In the context of the dramatic progress of discrete-variable MDI-QKD and twin-field QKD, owing to the critical challenge of continuous-variable (CV) Bell-state measurement (BSM) of two remote independent quantum states, experimental demonstration of CV-MDI-QKD over optical fiber has remained elusive. To solve this problem, a technology for CV-BSM of remote independent quantum states is developed that consists of optical phase locking, phase estimation, real-time phase feedback, and quadrature remapping in the present work. With this technology, CV-BSM is accurately implemented, and the first CV-MDI-QKD over optical fiber is demonstrated, to our knowledge. The achieved secret key rates are 0.43 (0.19) bits per pulse over a 5-km (10-km) optical fiber. Our work shows that it is feasible to build a CV-MDI-QKD system over optical fiber. Further, the results pave the way towards realization of a high secret key rate and low-cost metropolitan MDI-QKD network, and serve as a stepping stone to a CV quantum repeater.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables two remote parties to share encryption keys with security based on the laws of physics. Continuous-variable (CV) QKD with coherent states and coherent detection integrates well with existing telecommunication networks. Thus far, long-distance CV-QKD has only been demonstrated using a highly complex scheme where the local oscillator is transmitted, opening security loopholes for eavesdroppers and limiting potential applications. Here, we report a long-distance CV-QKD experiment with a locally generated local oscillator over a 100-kilometer fiber channel with a total loss of 15.4 decibels. This record-breaking distance is achieved by controlling the phase noise-induced excess noise through a machine learning framework for carrier recovery and optimizing the modulation variance. We implement the full CV-QKD protocol and demonstrate the generation of keys secure against collective attacks in the finite-size regime. Our results mark a substantial milestone for realizing CV quantum access networks with a high loss budget and pave the way for large-scale deployment of secure QKD.
Continuous-variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (CV-MDI-QKD) allows remote parties to share information-theoretical secure keys while defending all the side-channel attacks on measurement devices. However, the secure transmission distance and the secret key rate are quite limited due to the high untrusted equivalent excess noise in the Gaussian modulation. More particularly, extremely high-efficiency homodyne detections are required for even non-zero secure transmission distances, which directly restrict its practical realization. Here, we propose a CV-MDI-QKD protocol by encoding the key information into matched discrete phases of two groups of coherent states, which decreases the required detection efficiency for ideally asymmetric cases, and makes it possible to practically achieve secure key distribution with current low-efficiency homodyne detections. Besides, a proof-of-principle experiment with a locally generated oscillator is implemented, which, for the first time, demonstrates the realizability of CV-MDI-QKD using all fiber-based devices. The discrete-modulated phase-matching method provides an alternative direction of an applicable quantum key distribution with practical security.
Quantum key distribution with continuous variables (CV-QKD) enables two parties to share a secret key by using coherent states of light and homodyne detection. This can be carried out by employing low-cost and mature technology developed for telecommunications. It has been shown that at short distances, CV-QKD allows for higher bit rates than conventional discrete variable QKD protocols. Furthermore, CV-QKD could potentially be employed to build a link for secure communication between two parties inside a building or campus and potentially in satellite communications. In this work, we will direct efforts into developing a fiber-based, low-cost, robust, and high-bitrate CV-QKD link. The theoretical concepts, specifics of the QKD system subsequently put into practice in the implementation, have been detailed. Finally, interference experiments have been performed parallel to the proof-of-principle QKD system.