We propose an efficient quantum key distribution scheme based on entanglement. The sender chooses pairs of photons in one of the two equivalent nonmaximally entangled states randomly, and sends a sequence of photons from each pair to the receiver. They choose from the various bases independently but with substantially different probabilities, thus reducing the fraction of discarded data, and a significant gain in efficiency is achieved. We then show that such a refined data analysis guarantees the security of our scheme against a biased eavesdropping strategy.
We investigate multiple linear optical teleportation in the Knill-Laflamme-Milburn scheme with both maximally and nonmaximally entangled states. We show that if the qubit is teleported several times via nonmaximally entangled state then the errors introduced in the previous teleportations can be corrected by the errors introduced in the following teleportations. This effect is so strong that it leads to another interesting phenomenon, i.e., the total probability of successful multiple linear optical teleportation is higher for nonmaximally entangled states than maximally entangled states.
In a recent Brief Report, Zheng [S-B. Zheng, PRA 66, 014103 (2002)] has given a proof of nonlocality without using inequalities for three spin-1/2 particles in the nonmaximally entangled state |psi> = cosθ|+++> + i sinθ|-->. Here we show that Zheng's proof is not correct. Indeed it is the case that, for the experiment considered by Zheng, the only state that admits a nonlocality proof without inequalities is the maximally entangled state.
We show that for pure and mixed states the problem of maximizing the correlation measure in the CHSH inequality reduces to maximizing the perimeter of a parallelogram enclosed by an ellipse characterized by the entanglement contained in the bipartite system. Since our geometrical description is also valid for a non-maximally entangled state we can determine the corresponding optimal measurements.
Many previous works on quantum photolithography are based on maximally-entangled states (MES). In this paper, we generalize the MES quantum photolithography to the case where two light beams share a $N$-photon nonmaximally-entangled state. we investigate the correlations between quantum entanglement and quantum photolithography. It is shown that for nonlocal entanglement between the two light beams the amplitude of the deposition rate can be changed through varying the degree of entanglement described by an entanglement angle while the resolution remains unchanged, and found that for local ent…
For carrying out many quantum information protocols entanglement must be established in advance between two distant parties. Practically, inevitable interaction of entangled subsystems with their environments during distribution and storage will result in degradation of entanglement. Here we investigate the decoherence of two-qubit entangled states in the local amplitude noise. We show that there exists a set of partially entangled states that are more robust than maximally entangled states in terms of the residual quantum correlation measured by concurrence, fully entangled fraction, and quan…
We consider the problem of establishing entangled states of optimal singlet fraction and negativity between two remote parties for every use of a noisy quantum channel and trace-preserving LOCC under the assumption that the parties do not share prior correlations. We show that for a family of quantum channels in every finite dimension $d\geq3$, one-shot optimal singlet fraction and entanglement negativity are attained only with appropriate nonmaximally entangled states. We further show that the generalization of the formula that exactly computes one-shot optimal singlet fraction for qubit chan…
We analyze entanglement swapping (ES) of partially entangled pure states with arbitrary Schmidt rank from the perspective of quantum state discrimination. It is shown that the standard deterministic ES protocol is related with an optimal minimum-error strategy. In this case the amount of entanglement of the states resulting from swapping is, in general, lower than the maximum achievable for the quantum channels involved. In this regard, we show that the ES protocol can be probabilistically improved resorting to optimal maximum-confidence (MC) discrimination strategy. Additionally, we show that…
We study the one-to-two phase-covariant telecloning of a qudit without ancilla. We show that the fidelity of the two clones can reach that of the clones in the optimal ancilla-based one-to-two phase-covariant cloning and telecloning, i.e., the limitation of quantum mechanics. More interestingly, it is a nonmaximally entangled state rather than the maximally entangled state that can be used to realize such a telecloning task.
We discuss some properties of the Knill-Laflamme-Milburn scheme for quantum teleportation with both maximally and nonmaximally entangled states. We derive the error correction scheme when one performs teleportation with nonmaximally entangled states and we find the probability for perfect teleportation. We show that the maximally entangled state is optimal in such a case. We also show how the error correction scheme can be implemented experimentally when one uses polarization encoding.
We investigate the multiple teleportation with some nonmaximally entangled channels. The efficiencies of two multiple teleportation protocols, the separate multiple teleportation protocol (SMTP) and the global multiple teleportation protocol (GMTP), are calculated. We show that GMTP is more efficient than SMTP.
We present a concentration and purification scheme for nonmaximally entangled pure and mixed porization entangled state. We firstly show that two distant parties Alice and Bob first start with two shared but less entangled photon pure states to produce a four photon GHZ state, and then perform a 45 polarization measurement onto one of the two photons at each location such that the remaining two photon are projected onto a maximally entangled state. We further show the scheme also can be used to purify a class of mixed polarization-entangled state.
We propose a scheme for concentrating nonmaximally pure and mixed polarization-entangled state of individual photon pairs. The scheme uses only simple linear optical elements and may be feasible within current optical technology.
We present a proposal for optically implementing the quantum game of the two-player quantum prisoner's dilemma involving nonmaximally entangled states by using beam splitters, phase shifters, cross-Kerr medium, photon detector and the single-photon representation of quantum bits.
We propose a method of the Bell bases decomposition to teleport an arbitrary unknown N-qubit state through a nonmaximally entangled quantum channel, and give the universal decomposition matrix of N-qubit. Using the decomposition matrix, we can easily obtain the collapsed state at the receiver site. The inverse matrix that the decomposition matrix is just the transformation matrix that the receiver can manipulate. The decomposition matrix is a function of the parameters of the quantum channel. After defining the sub-matrix of the quantum channel, we find that the decomposition matrix is a tenso…
We consider multiple teleportation in the Knill-Laflamme-Milburn (KLM) scheme. We introduce adaptive teleportation, i.e., such that the choice of entangled state used in the next teleportation depends on the results of the measurements performed during the previous teleportations. We show that adaptive teleportation enables an increase in the probability of faithful multiple teleportation in the KLM scheme. In particular if a qubit is to be teleported more than once then it is better to use nonmaximally entangled states than maximally entangled ones in order to achieve the highest probability …
We investigate an imbalance between the sensitivity of the common state measures--fidelity, trace distance, concurrence, tangle, von Neumann entropy and linear entropy--when acted on by a depolarizing channel. Further, in this context we explore two classes of two-qubit entangled mixed states. Specifically, we illustrate a sensitivity imbalance between three of these measures for depolarized (i.e., Werner-state like) nonmaximally entangled and maximally entangled mixed states, noting that the size of the imbalance depends on the state's tangle and linear entropy.
We propose a probabilistic two-party communication complexity scenario with a prior nonmaximally entangled state, which results in less communication than that is required with only classical random correlations. A simple all-optical implementation of this protocol is presented and demonstrates our conclusion.
The ladder proof of nonlocality without inequalities for two spin half particles proposed by Hardy et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 79 (1997) 2755) works only for nonmaximally entangled states and goes through for 50% of pairs at the most. A similar ladder proof for two spin-1 particles in a maximally entangled state is presented. In its simplest form, the proof goes through for 17% of pairs. An extended version works for 100% of pairs. The proof can be extended to any maximally entangled state of two spin-s particles (with s equal or greater than 1).
We present an entanglement swapping process for unknown nonmaximally entangled photonic states, where the standard Bell-state measurement is replaced by a three-step quantum walk-like state discrimination process, i.e., the practically nontrivial coupling element of two photons is replaced by manipulating their trajectories, which will greatly enrich the dynamics of the coupling between photons in realizing quantum computation, and reduce the integration complexity of optical quantum processing. In addition, the output state can be maximally entangled, which allows for entanglement concentrati…
We perform numerical tests on quantum nonlocality of two-level quantum systems (qubits) observed by a uniformly moving observer. Under a suitable momentum setting, the quantum nonlocality of two-qubit nonmaximally entangled states could be weakened drastically by the Lorentz transformation allowing for the existence of local-hidden-variable models, whereas three-qubit genuinely entangled states are robust. In particular, the generalized GHZ state remains nonlocal under arbitrary Wigner rotation and the generalized W state could admit local-hidden-variable models within a rather narrow range of…
We propose a linear optical scheme for the teleportation of unknown ionic states, the entanglement concentration for nonmaximally entangled states for ions via entanglement swapping and the remote preparation for ionic entangled states. The unique advantage of the scheme is that the joint Bell-state measurement needed in the previous schemes is not needed in the current scheme, i.e. the joint Bell-state measurement has been converted into the product of separate measurements on single ions and photons. In addition, the current scheme can realize the quantum information processes for ions by us…
Recently, Harrow et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 187901 (2004)] gave a method for preparing an arbitrary quantum state with high success probability by physically transmitting some qubits, and by consuming a maximally entangled state, together with exhausting some shared random bits. In this paper, we discover that some states are impossible to be perfectly prepared by Alice and Bob initially sharing those entangled states that are superposed by the ground states, as the states to be prepared. In particular, we present a sufficient and necessary condition for the states being enabled to be exactl…
We show the enhancement of distillable key rate for quantum key distribution(QKD), by local filtering, for several bound entangled states. Through our work it becomes evident that the local filtration operations, while transforming one bound entangled state to another, have the potential to increase the utility of the new state for QKD. We demonstrate three examples of `one way distillable key rate' enhancement by local filtering and in this process, discover new bound entangled states which are key distillable.
In this paper, we present sufficient conditions for states to have positive distillable key rate. Exploiting the conditions, we show that the bound entangled states given by Horodecki et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 160502 (2005), quant-ph/0506203] have nonzero distillable key rate, and finally exhibit a new class of bound entangled states with positive distillable key rate, but with negative Devetak-Winter lower bound of distillable key rate for the ccq states of their privacy squeezed versions.
A two-step quantum key distribution protocol using frequency and polarization doubly entangled photons is proposed. In this protocol, information is encoded by a unitary operation on each of the two doubly entangled photons and sent from Alice to Bob in two steps. State measurement device is designed. The security of the communication is analyzed.
Recently, Boyer et al. presented a novel semiquantum key distribution protocol [M. Boyer, D. Kenigsberg, and T. Mor, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 140501 (2007)], by using four quantum states, each of which is randomly prepared by Z basis or X basis. Here we present a semiquantum key distribution protocol by using entangled states in which quantum Alice shares a secret key with classical Bob. We also show the protocol is secure against eavesdropping.
We construct multipartite entangled states with underlying W-type structure satisfying positive partial transpose (PPT) condition under any (N-1)|1 partition. Then we show how to distill N-partite secure key form the states using two different methods: direct application of local filtering and novel random key distillation scheme in which we adopt the idea form recent results on entanglement distillation. Open problems and possible implications are also discussed.
We present a scheme to realize a quantum key distribution using vacuum-one photon entangled states created both from Alice and Bob. The protocol consists in an exchange of spatial modes between Alice and Bob and in a recombination which allows one of them to reconstruct the bit encoded by the counterpart in the phase of the entangled state. The security of the scheme is analyzed against some simple kind of attack. The model is shown to reach higher efficiency with respect to prior schemes using phase encoding methods.
Efficiency is a key issue in any real implementation of a cryptographic protocol since the physical resources are not unlimited. We will first show that Quantum Key Distribution is possible with an "Entanglement based" scheme with NPPT symmetric Gaussian states in spite of the fact that these systems cannot be distilled with Gaussian operations (they are all bound entangled). In this work we analyze the secrecy properties of Gaussian states under Gaussian operations. Although such operations are useless for quantum distillation, we prove that it is possible to distill efficiently a secret key …
We present three quantum key distribution protocols using entangled state. In the first two protocols, all Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen pairs are used to distribute a secret key except those chosen for eavesdropping check, because the communication parties measure each of their particles in an invariable measuring basis. The first protocol is based on the ideal of qubit transmission in blocks. Although it need quantum memory, its theoretic efficiency approximates to 100%. The second protocol does not need quantum memory and its efficiency for qubits can achieve 100%. In the third protocol, we prese…
We report on a complete experimental implementation of a quantum key distribution protocol through a free space link using polarization-entangled photon pairs from a compact parametric down-conversion source. Over 10 hours of uninterrupted communication between sites 1.5 km apart, we observe average key generation rates of 630 per second after error correction and privacy amplification. Our scheme requires no specific hardware channel for synchronization apart from a classical wireless link, and no explicit random number generator.
We present an entangled-state quantum cryptography system that operated for the first time in a real world application scenario. The full key generation protocol was performed in real time between two distributed embedded hardware devices, which were connected by 1.45 km of optical fiber, installed for this experiment in the Vienna sewage system. The generated quantum key was immediately handed over and used by a secure communication application.
Recently, a quantum key exchange protocol has been described, which served as basis for securing an actual bank transaction by means of quantum cryptography [quant-ph/0404115]. Here we show, that the authentication scheme applied is insecure in the sense that an attacker can provoke a situation where initiator and responder of a key exchange end up with different keys. Moreover, it may happen that an attacker can decrypt a part of the plaintext protected with the derived encryption key.
We present a full implementation of a quantum key distribution system using energy-time entangled photon pairs and functioning with a 30km standard telecom fiber quantum channel. Two bases of two orthogonal states are implemented and the setup is quite robust to environmental constraints such as temperature variation. Two different ways to manage chromatic dispersion in the quantum channel are discussed.
We present a practical method that can make quantum key distribution (QKD), for the first time, both ultra-long-distance and immune to all attacks in the detection system. This method is an important extension of the measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD) - MDI-QKD with entangled photon sources in the middle. By proposing a general model and simulating an entanglement based QKD experiment, we find that MDI-QKD with one entangled photon source in the middle can practically tolerate 77 dB combined loss (367km standard telecom fiber) in the asymptotic limit, and it can still tolerate 60 dB …
We introduce a novel time-frequency quantum key distribution (TFQKD) scheme based on photon pairs entangled in these two conjugate degrees of freedom. The scheme uses spectral detection and phase modulation to enable measurements in the temporal basis by means of time-to-frequency conversion. This allows large-alphabet encoding to be implemented with realistic components. A general security analysis for TFQKD with binned measurements reveals a close connection with finite-dimensional QKD protocols and enables analysis of the effects of dark counts on the secure key size.
We suggest a quantum cryptographic scheme using continuous EPR-like correlations of bright optical beams. For binary key encoding, the continuous information is discretized in a novel way by associating a respective measurement, amplitude or phase, with a bit value "1" or "0". The secure key distribution is guaranteed by the quantum correlations. No pre-determined information is sent through the quantum channel contributing to the security of the system.
Hereunder, we study the class of irreducible private states that are private states from which all the secret content is accessible via measuring their key part. We provide the first protocol which distills key not only from the key part, but also from the shield if only the state is reducible. We prove also a tighter upper bound on the performance of that protocol, given in terms of regularized relative entropy of entanglement instead of relative entropy of entanglement previously known. This implies in particular that the irreducible private states are all strictly irreducible if and only if…
In this paper, we present the first experimental demonstration on continuous variable quantum key distribution using determinant Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled states of optical field. By means of the instantaneous measurements of the quantum fluctuations of optical modes respectively distributed at sender and receiver, the random bits of secret key are obtained without the need for signal modulation. The post-selection boundaries for the presented entanglement-based scheme against both Gaussian collective and individual attacks are theoretically concluded. The final secret key rates of 84 …
Random generation and confidential distribution of cryptographic keys are fundamental building blocks of secure communication. Using quantum states in which the transmitted quantum bit is entangled with a stationary memory quantum bit allows the secure generation and distribution of keys to be based on fundamental properties of quantum mechanics. At the same time, the reach of secure communication networks can be enhanced, in particular, since this architecture would be compatible with quantum repeaters which are an integral part for scaling quantum networks. Here, we realize a true single-pho…
We show that non-maximally entangled states can be used to build a quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme whose security and key rate transmission is nearly equivalent to those of standard QKD protocols. These aspects can be controlled by using the new free parameter in the present scheme, namely, the degree of partial entanglement. Furthermore, we discuss how to build a controlled QKD scheme, also based on partially entangled states, where a third party can decide whether or not Alice and Bob are allowed to share a key.
We investigate a quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme which utilizes a biased basis choice in order to increase the efficiency of the scheme. The optimal bias between the two measurement bases, a more refined error analysis, and finite key size effects are all studied in order to assure the security of the final key generated with the system. We then implement the scheme in a local entangled QKD system that uses polarization entangled photon pairs to securely distribute the key. A 50/50 non-polarizing beamsplitter with different optical attenuators is used to simulate a variable beamsplitter …
States with private correlations but little or no distillable entanglement were recently reported. Here, we consider the secure distribution of such states, i.e., the situation when an adversary gives two parties such states and they have to verify privacy. We present a protocol which enables the parties to extract from such untrusted states an arbitrarily long and secure key, even though the amount of distillable entanglement of the untrusted states can be arbitrarily small.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) refers to specific quantum strategies which permit the secure distribution of a secret key between two parties that wish to communicate secretly. Quantum cryptography has proven unconditionally secure in ideal scenarios and has been successfully implemented using quantum states with finite (discrete) as well as infinite (continuous) degrees of freedom. Here, we analyze the efficiency of QKD protocols that use as a resource entangled gaussian states and gaussian operations only. In this framework, it has already been shown that QKD is possible (M. Navascués et al.…
Using the previously shared Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen pairs, a proposal which can be used to distribute a quantum key and identify the user's identification simultaneously is presented. In this scheme, two local unitary operations and the Bell state measurement are used. Combined with quantum memories, a cryptographic network is proposed. One advantage is no classical communication is needed, which make the scheme more secure. The secure analysis of this scheme is shown.
In view of real world applications of quantum information technologies, the combination of miniature quantum resources with existing fibre networks is a crucial issue. Among such resources, on-chip entangled photon sources play a central role for applications spanning quantum communications, computing and metrology. Here, we use a semiconductor source of entangled photons operating at room temperature in conjunction with standard telecom components to demonstrate multi-user quantum key distribution, a core protocol for securing communications in quantum networks. The source consists of an AlGa…
Frequency-Resolved Simulations of Highly Entangled Biphoton States: Beyond the Single-Pair Approximation. II. Application to Entanglement-based Quantum Key Distribution
In this paper, we put forward a novel single-state three-party semiquantum key agreement (SQKA) protocol with three-particle GHZ entangled states first. Different with previous quantum key agreement (QKA) protocols, the proposed single-state three-party SQKA protocol can realize the goal that a quantum party and two classical parties who only possess limited quantum capabilities equally contribute to the generation of a shared private key over quantum channels. Detailed security analysis turns out that the proposed single-state three-party SQKA protocol is secure against several famous attacks…
By realizing a quantum cryptography system based on polarization entangled photon pairs we establish highly secure keys, because a single photon source is approximated and the inherent randomness of quantum measurements is exploited. We implement a novel key distribution scheme using Wigner's inequality to test the security of the quantum channel, and, alternatively, realize a variant of the BB84 protocol. Our system has two completely independent users separated by 360 m, and generates raw keys at rates of 400 - 800 bits/second with bit error rates arround 3 percent.
We report on the first real-time implementation of a quantum key distribution (QKD) system using entangled photon pairs that are sent over two free-space optical telescope links. The entangled photon pairs are produced with a type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion source placed in a central, potentially untrusted, location. The two free-space links cover a distance of 435 m and 1,325 m respectively, producing a total separation of 1,575 m. The system relies on passive polarization analysis units, GPS timing receivers for synchronization, and custom written software to perform the compl…
The study of quantum cryptography and quantum non-locality have traditionnally been based on two-level quantum systems (qubits). In this paper we consider a generalisation of Ekert's cryptographic protocol [Ekert] where qubits are replaced by qutrits. The security of this protocol is related to non-locality, in analogy with Ekert's protocol. In order to study its robustness against the optimal individual attacks, we derive the information gained by a potential eavesdropper applying a cloning-based attack.
We here present the rate analysis and a proof of principle realization of a device-independent quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol requiring the lowest detection efficiency necessary to achieve a secure key compared to device-independent protocols known so far. The protocol is based on non-maximally entangled state and its experimental realization has been performed by two-photon bipartite entangled states. The improvement with respect to protocols involving maximally entangled states has been estimated.
Now that fundamental quantum principles of indeterminacy and measurement have become the basis of new technologies that provide secrecy between two communicating parties, there is a need to provide teaching laboratories that illustrate how these technologies work. In this article we describe a laboratory exercise in which students perform quantum key distribution with single photons, and see how the secrecy of the communication is ensured by the principles of quantum superposition and state projection. We used a table-top apparatus, similar to those used in correlated-photon undergraduate labo…
We revisit the practical implementation of high-dimensional quantum key distribution protocol using path entanglement reported in [Phys.Rev.Lett.~127,~110505,~2021]. Here we refine the noise robustness analysis performed there by simulating the effect of different types of channel noise on the noiseless experimental data. Further, we extend the analysis to two kinds of asymmetric scenarios. In the first scenario the entanglement source is placed in Alice's lab and thus Only one noisy channel has to be considered. In the second scenario, Bob's detectors are placed at different physical location…
