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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• quantum key distribution
• quantum communication
• Bell-state measurement

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge technical support by Vladimir Kiselyov, discussions with Erhan Saglamyurek and Neil Sinclair, and thank idQuantique for lending us two id210 single photon detectors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported through Alberta Innovates Technology Futures, the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (through their Discover Grant and CryptoWorks 21 CREATE programs), the Calgary Urban Alliance, the National Nature Science Foundation of China [grant number 61405030], the Oversea Academic Training Fund of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency InPho Program, and the Killam Trusts. Part of the research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. W.T. is a senior fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.