Experimental open-air quantum key distribution with a single-photon source

We describe the implementation of a quantum key distribution (QKD) system using a single-photon source, operating at night in open air. The single-photon source at the heart of the functional and reliable set-up relies on the pulsed excitation of a single nitrogen-vacancy colour centre in a diamond nanocrystal. We tested the effect of attenuation on the polarized encoded photons for inferring the longer distance performance of our system. For strong attenuation, the use of pure single-photon states gives measurable advantage over systems relying on weak attenuated laser pulses. The results are in good agreement with theoretical models developed to assess QKD security.

[1]  Thierry Gacoin,et al.  Photo-induced creation of nitrogen-related color centers in diamond nanocrystals under femtosecond illumination , 2004 .

[2]  Norbert Lütkenhaus,et al.  Effect of finite detector efficiencies on the security evaluation of quantum key distribution , 2004 .

[3]  J. Roch,et al.  Photon statistics characterization of a single-photon source , 2003, quant-ph/0312084.

[4]  V. Scarani,et al.  Coherent-pulse implementations of quantum cryptography protocols resistant to photon-number-splitting attacks , 2003, quant-ph/0302037.

[5]  Charles H. Bennett,et al.  Experimental quantum cryptography , 1991, Journal of Cryptology.

[6]  N. Lutkenhaus,et al.  Practical quantum key distribution: On the security evaluation with inefficient single-photon detectors , 2003, quant-ph/0311066.

[7]  A. Tomita,et al.  Single-photon interference experiment over 100 km for quantum cryptography system using balanced gated-mode photon detector , 2003, quant-ph/0306066.

[8]  G. Solomon,et al.  Enhanced single-photon emission from a quantum dot in a micropost microcavity , 2003, quant-ph/0307025.

[9]  F. Laruelle,et al.  Single photon emission from individual GaAs quantum dots , 2003 .

[10]  Kyo Inoue,et al.  Secure communication: Quantum cryptography with a photon turnstile , 2002, Nature.

[11]  Yoshihisa Yamamoto,et al.  Indistinguishable photons from a single-photon device , 2002, Nature.

[12]  P R Tapster,et al.  Quantum cryptography: A step towards global key distribution , 2002, Nature.

[13]  J. Rarity,et al.  Ground to satellite secure key exchange using quantum cryptography , 2002 .

[14]  P. Grangier,et al.  Single photon quantum cryptography. , 2002, Physical review letters.

[15]  Richard J. Hughes,et al.  Practical free-space quantum key distribution over 10 km in daylight and at night , 2002, quant-ph/0206092.

[16]  G. Solomon,et al.  Available online at www.sciencedirect.com , 2000 .

[17]  G. Rempe,et al.  Deterministic single-photon source for distributed quantum networking. , 2002, Physical review letters.

[18]  N. Gisin,et al.  Experimental investigation of the robustness of partially entangled qubits over 11 km , 2002, quant-ph/0203067.

[19]  J. Roch,et al.  Direct measurement of the photon statistics of a triggered single photon source. , 2002, Physical review letters.

[20]  T. Gacoin,et al.  Room temperature stable single-photon source , 2002 .

[21]  Michael Pepper,et al.  Electrically Driven Single-Photon Source , 2001, Science.

[22]  Ivan Damgård,et al.  Experimental quantum key distribution with proven security against realistic attacks , 2001 .

[23]  Costas Fotakis,et al.  LASERS, OPTICS, AND OPTOELECTRONICS 2865 Single-mode solid-state single photon source based on isolated quantum dots in pillar microcavities , 2001 .

[24]  Jean-Michel Gérard,et al.  Quantum Cascade of Photons in Semiconductor Quantum Dots , 2001 .

[25]  P. Grangier,et al.  Nonclassical radiation from diamond nanocrystals , 2001, OFC 2001.

[26]  Y. Yamamoto,et al.  Triggered single photons from a quantum dot. , 2000, Physical review letters.

[27]  Tor Helleseth,et al.  Advances in Cryptology — EUROCRYPT ’93 , 2001, Lecture Notes in Computer Science.

[28]  P. Petroff,et al.  A quantum dot single-photon turnstile device. , 2000, Science.

[29]  W. Moerner,et al.  Single photons on demand from a single molecule at room temperature , 2000, Nature.

[30]  C. Kurtsiefer,et al.  A robust all-solid-state source for single photons , 2000, Conference Digest. 2000 International Quantum Electronics Conference (Cat. No.00TH8504).

[31]  R. Tualle-Brouri,et al.  Single photon emission from colored centers in diamond , 2000, Conference Digest. 2000 International Quantum Electronics Conference (Cat. No.00TH8504).

[32]  N. Gisin,et al.  Long-distance entanglement-based quantum key distribution , 2000, quant-ph/0008039.

[33]  P. Grangier,et al.  Photon antibunching in the fluorescence of individual color centers in diamond. , 2000, Optics letters.

[34]  P. Grangier,et al.  Single-photon generation by pulsed excitation of a single dipole , 2000, quant-ph/0007037.

[35]  Mayer,et al.  Stable solid-state source of single photons , 2000, Physical review letters.

[36]  N. Lütkenhaus.  Security against individual attacks for realistic quantum key distribution , 2000 .

[37]  G. Brassard,et al.  Security aspects of practical quantum cryptography , 1999, Conference Digest. 2000 International Quantum Electronics Conference (Cat. No.00TH8504).

[38]  N. Lutkenhaus.  Security against individual attacks for realistic quantum key distribution , 1999, quant-ph/9910093.

[39]  M. Orrit,et al.  Triggered Source of Single Photons based on Controlled Single Molecule Fluorescence , 1999 .

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

[41]  De Martini F,et al.  Single-mode generation of quantum photon states by excited single molecules in a microcavity trap. , 1996, Physical review letters.

[42]  Ueli Maurer,et al.  Generalized privacy amplification , 1994, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory.

[43]  P. Townsend.  Secure key distribution system based on quantum cryptography , 1994 .

[44]  Yamamoto,et al.  Turnstile device for heralded single photons: Coulomb blockade of electron and hole tunneling in quantum confined p-i-n heterojunctions. , 1994, Physical review letters.

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

[46]  Whitfield Diffie,et al.  New Directions in Cryptography , 1976, IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory.

[47]  For a recent review , 1973 .