Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution: from idea towards application

We assess the overall performance of our quantum key distribution (QKD) system implementing the measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol using components with varying capabilities such as different single-photon detectors and qubit preparation hardware. We experimentally show that superconducti...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of modern optics 2015-08, Vol.62 (14), p.1141-1150
Main Authors: Valivarthi, Raju, Lucio-Martinez, Itzel, Chan, Philip, Rubenok, Allison, John, Caleb, Korchinski, Daniel, Duffin, Cooper, Marsili, Francesco, Verma, Varun, Shaw, Mathew D., Stern, Jeffrey A., Nam, Sae Woo, Oblak, Daniel, Zhou, Qiang, Slater, Joshua A., Tittel, Wolfgang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atoms & subatomic particles
Bell-state measurement
Channels
Data integrity
Detectors
Fibers
Field programmable gate arrays
Hardware
Information theory
Nanowires
Noise levels
quantum communication
quantum key distribution
Quantum physics
Qubits (quantum computing)
Superconductivity
Waveform generators
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We assess the overall performance of our quantum key distribution (QKD) system implementing the measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocol using components with varying capabilities such as different single-photon detectors and qubit preparation hardware. We experimentally show that superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors allow QKD over a channel featuring 60 dB loss, and QKD with more than 600 bits of secret key per second (not considering finite key effects) over a 16 dB loss channel. This corresponds to 300 and 80 km of standard telecommunication fiber, respectively. We also demonstrate that the integration of our QKD system into FPGA-based hardware (instead of state-of-the-art arbitrary waveform generators) does not impact on its performance. Our investigation allows us to acquire an improved understanding of the trade-offs between complexity, cost and system performance, which is required for future customization of MDI-QKD. Given that our system can be operated outside the laboratory over deployed fiber, we conclude that MDI-QKD is a promising approach to information-theoretic secure key distribution.
ISSN:0950-0340
1362-3044
DOI:10.1080/09500340.2015.1021725