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Title: Passive state preparation in the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states quantum key distribution

Abstract

In the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states (GMCS) quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol, Alice prepares quantum states actively: For each transmission, Alice generates a pair of Gaussian-distributed random numbers, encodes them on a weak coherent pulse using optical amplitude and phase modulators, and then transmits the Gaussian-modulated weak coherent pulse to Bob. Here we propose a passive state preparation scheme using a thermal source. In our scheme, Alice splits the output of a thermal source into two spatial modes using a beam splitter. She measures one mode locally using conjugate optical homodyne detectors, and transmits the other mode to Bob after applying appropriate optical attenuation. Under normal conditions, Alice's measurement results are correlated to Bob's, and they can work out a secure key, as in the active state preparation scheme. Given the initial thermal state generated by the source is strong enough, this scheme can tolerate high detector noise at Alice's side. Furthermore, the output of the source does not need to be single mode, since an optical homodyne detector can selectively measure a single mode determined by the local oscillator. Preliminary experimental results suggest that the proposed scheme could be implemented using an off-the-shelf amplified spontaneous emission source.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1429187
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1417076
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review A
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 97; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2469-9926
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS

Citation Formats

Qi, Bing, Evans, Philip G., and Grice, Warren P. Passive state preparation in the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states quantum key distribution. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.97.012317.
Qi, Bing, Evans, Philip G., & Grice, Warren P. Passive state preparation in the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states quantum key distribution. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.97.012317
Qi, Bing, Evans, Philip G., and Grice, Warren P. 2018. "Passive state preparation in the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states quantum key distribution". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.97.012317. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1429187.
@article{osti_1429187,
title = {Passive state preparation in the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states quantum key distribution},
author = {Qi, Bing and Evans, Philip G. and Grice, Warren P.},
abstractNote = {In the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states (GMCS) quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol, Alice prepares quantum states actively: For each transmission, Alice generates a pair of Gaussian-distributed random numbers, encodes them on a weak coherent pulse using optical amplitude and phase modulators, and then transmits the Gaussian-modulated weak coherent pulse to Bob. Here we propose a passive state preparation scheme using a thermal source. In our scheme, Alice splits the output of a thermal source into two spatial modes using a beam splitter. She measures one mode locally using conjugate optical homodyne detectors, and transmits the other mode to Bob after applying appropriate optical attenuation. Under normal conditions, Alice's measurement results are correlated to Bob's, and they can work out a secure key, as in the active state preparation scheme. Given the initial thermal state generated by the source is strong enough, this scheme can tolerate high detector noise at Alice's side. Furthermore, the output of the source does not need to be single mode, since an optical homodyne detector can selectively measure a single mode determined by the local oscillator. Preliminary experimental results suggest that the proposed scheme could be implemented using an off-the-shelf amplified spontaneous emission source.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.97.012317},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1429187}, journal = {Physical Review A},
issn = {2469-9926},
number = 1,
volume = 97,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

Journal Article:

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 23 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Figures / Tables:

FIG. 1: FIG. 1:: The proposed passive state preparation scheme in the GMCS QKD. BS1/BS2-50:50 beam splitter; Att.-optical attenuator; HD-homodyne detector. The efficiency of homodyne detector is modeled by a beam splitter with a transmittance of ηD. Note the combination of BS1 and Att. could be replaced by an asymmetric beam splitter.

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Advantages of the coherent state compared with squeezed state in unidimensional continuous variable quantum key distribution
journal, November 2018


Passive-state preparation in continuous-variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution
journal, June 2019


Quantum secrecy in thermal states
journal, May 2019


Passive continuous-variable quantum secret sharing using a thermal source
journal, February 2020


Quantum Secrecy in Thermal States
preprint, January 2017


Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.