Continuous high speed coherent one-way quantum key distribution.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the first commercial quantum technology operating at the level of single quanta and is a leading light for quantum-enabled photonic technologies. However, controlling these quantum optical systems in real world environments presents significant challenges. For the first time, we have brought together three key concepts for future QKD systems: a simple high-speed protocol; high performance detection; and integration both, at the component level and for standard fibre network connectivity. The QKD system is capable of continuous and autonomous operation, generating secret keys in real time. Laboratory and field tests were performed and comparisons made with robust InGaAs avalanche photodiodes and superconducting detectors. We report the first real world implementation of a fully functional QKD system over a 43 dB-loss (150 km) transmission line in the Swisscom fibre optic network where we obtained average real-time distribution rates over 3 hours of 2.5 bps.

[1]  Charles H. Bennett,et al.  WITHDRAWN: Quantum cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing , 2011 .

[2]  Jun Zhang,et al.  Comprehensive Characterization of InGaAs–InP Avalanche Photodiodes at 1550 nm With an Active Quenching ASIC , 2008, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics.

[3]  K. Tamaki,et al.  Differential phase shift-quantum key distribution , 2008, IEEE Communications Magazine.

[4]  A. Uchida,et al.  Fast physical random bit generation with chaotic semiconductor lasers , 2008 .

[5]  N. Gisin,et al.  Tunable upconversion photon detector , 2008, 0807.3399.

[6]  A. R. Dixon,et al.  Gigahertz quantum key distribution with InGaAs avalanche photodiodes , 2008 .

[7]  Nicolas Gisin,et al.  Upper bounds for the security of two distributed-phase reference protocols of quantum cryptography , 2008 .

[8]  Renato Renner,et al.  Quantum cryptography with finite resources: unconditional security bound for discrete-variable protocols with one-way postprocessing. , 2007, Physical review letters.

[9]  Richard J. Hughes,et al.  Long-distance quantum key distribution in optical fibre , 2006, OFC/NFOEC 2008 - 2008 Conference on Optical Fiber Communication/National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference.

[10]  H. Zbinden,et al.  Free-running InGaAs/InP Avalanche Photodiode with Active Quenching for Single Photon Counting at Telecom Wavelengths , 2007, 0801.3899.

[11]  H. Zbinden,et al.  Single-Photon Detection System for Quantum Optics Applications , 2007, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics.

[12]  Sae Woo Nam,et al.  Quantum key distribution over a 40-dB channel loss using superconducting single-photon detectors , 2007, 0706.0397.

[13]  V. Scarani,et al.  Zero-error attacks and detection statistics in the coherent one-way protocol for quantum cryptography , 2006, Quantum Inf. Comput..

[14]  M. Fejer,et al.  100 km differential phase shift quantum key distribution experiment with low jitter up-conversion detectors. , 2006, Optics express.

[15]  N. Gisin,et al.  Low jitter up-conversion detectors for telecom wavelength GHz QKD , 2006 .

[16]  V. Scarani,et al.  Fast and simple one-way quantum key distribution , 2005, quant-ph/0506097.

[17]  A. Shields,et al.  Continuous operation of a one-way quantum key distribution system over installed telecom fibre. , 2005, Optics express.

[18]  Xiongfeng Ma,et al.  Decoy state quantum key distribution. , 2004, Physical review letters.

[19]  Xiang‐Bin Wang,et al.  Beating the PNS attack in practical quantum cryptography , 2004 .

[20]  V. Scarani,et al.  Towards practical and fast Quantum Cryptography , 2004, quant-ph/0411022.

[21]  M. Koashi.  Unconditional security of coherent-state quantum key distribution with a strong phase-reference pulse. , 2004, Physical review letters.

[22]  V. Scarani,et al.  Quantum cryptography protocols robust against photon number splitting attacks for weak laser pulse implementations. , 2002, Physical review letters.

[23]  Won-Young Hwang.  Quantum key distribution with high loss: toward global secure communication. , 2003, Physical review letters.

[24]  N. Gisin,et al.  Quantum key distribution over 67 km with a plug&play system , 2002, quant-ph/0203118.

[25]  H. Bechmann-Pasquinucci,et al.  Quantum cryptography , 2001, quant-ph/0101098.

[26]  Gilles Brassard,et al.  Secret-Key Reconciliation by Public Discussion , 1994, EUROCRYPT.

[27]  Charles H. Bennett,et al.  Quantum cryptography using any two nonorthogonal states. , 1992, Physical review letters.

[28]  Larry Carter,et al.  New Hash Functions and Their Use in Authentication and Set Equality , 1981, J. Comput. Syst. Sci..

[29]  Larry Carter,et al.  Universal Classes of Hash Functions , 1979, J. Comput. Syst. Sci..