A quantum password is a quantum mechanical analogue of the classical password. Our proposal is completely quantum mechanical in nature, i.e. at no point is information stored and manipulated classically. We show that, in contrast to quantum protocols that encode classical information, we are able to prevent the distribution of reusable passwords even when Alice actively cooperates with Eve. This allows us to confront and address security issues that are unavoidable in classical protocols.
We present a quantum password checking protocol where secrecy is protected by the laws of quantum mechanics. The passwords are encoded in quantum systems that can be compared but have a dimension too small to allow reading the encoded bits. We study the protocol under different replay attacks and show it is robust even for poorly chosen passwords.
We propose a quantum authentication protocol that is robust against the theft of secret keys. In the protocol, disposable quantum passwords prevent impersonation attacks with stolen secret keys. The protocol also prevents the leakage of secret information of a certification agent.
In a post-quantum world, where attackers may have access to full-scale quantum computers, all classical password-based authentication schemes will be compromised. Quantum copy-protection prevents adversaries from making copies of existing quantum software; we suggest this as a possible approach for designing post-quantum-secure password authentication systems. In this paper, we show an implementation of quantum copy-protection for password verification on IBM quantum computers. We also share our quantum computation results and analyses, as well as lessons learned.
Motivated by the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol, introduced in 1984 in the seminal paper of Bennett and Brassard, we investigate in this paper the achievability of unconditionally secure password-authenticated quantum key exchange (quantum PAKE), where the authentication is implemented by the means of human-memorable passwords. We first show a series of impossibility results forbidding the achievement of very strong security, leaving open the feasibility of achieving a weaker security notion. We then answer this open question positively by presenting a construction for quantum PAKE th…
Entropic uncertainty relations are quantitative characterizations of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which make use of an entropy measure to quantify uncertainty. In quantum cryptography, they are often used as convenient tools in security proofs. We propose a new entropic uncertainty relation. It is the first such uncertainty relation that lower bounds the uncertainty in the measurement outcome for all but one choice for the measurement from an arbitrarily large (but specifically chosen) set of possible measurements, and, at the same time, uses the min-entropy as entropy measure, rather t…
Distributed storage plays an essential role in realizing robust and secure data storage in a network over long periods of time. A distributed storage system consists of a data owner machine, multiple storage servers and channels to link them. In such a system, secret sharing scheme is widely adopted, in which secret data are split into multiple pieces and stored in each server. To reconstruct them, the data owner should gather plural pieces. Shamir's (k, n)-threshold scheme, in which the data are split into n pieces (shares) for storage and at least k pieces of them must be gathered for recons…
We present simple protocols for oblivious transfer and password-based identification which are secure against general attacks in the noisy-quantum-storage model as defined in [KWW09]. We argue that a technical tool from [KWW09] suffices to prove security of the known protocols. Whereas the more involved protocol for oblivious transfer from [KWW09] requires less noise in storage to achieve security, our "canonical" protocols have the advantage of being simpler to implement and the security error is easier control. Therefore, our protocols yield higher OT-rates for many realistic noise parameter…
We investigate the post-quantum security of the encrypted key exchange(EKE) protocols based on some basic physical parameters of ion-trap quantum computer, and show that the EKE protocol with a 40-bit password will be secure against a quantum adversary with several ion-trap quantum computers. We present a password encrypted no-key protocol to resist middle-man attack, and prove that it is also with the post-quantum security. The analysis presented here is probably of general meaning for the security evaluation of various hybrid cryptosystems.
Encryption is a vital tool of information technology protecting our data in the world with ubiquitous computers. While photons are regarded as ideal information carriers, it is a must to implement such data protection on all-optical storage. However, the intrinsic risk of data breaches in existing schemes of photonic memory was never addressed. We theoretically demonstrate the first protocol using spatially disordered laser fields to encrypt data stored on an optical memory, namely, encrypted photonic memory. Compare with a digital key, a continuous disorder encrypts stored light pulses with a…
We consider the problem of secure identification: user U proves to server S that he knows an agreed (possibly low-entropy) password w, while giving away as little information on w as possible, namely the adversary can exclude at most one possible password for each execution of the scheme. We propose a solution in the bounded-quantum-storage model, where U and S may exchange qubits, and a dishonest party is assumed to have limited quantum memory. No other restriction is posed upon the adversary. An improved version of the proposed identification scheme is also secure against a man-in-the-middle…
In a recent paper, Kalamidas has advanced a new proposal of faster than light communication which has not yet been proved invalid. In this paper, by strictly sticking to the standard quantum formalism we prove that, as all previous proposals, it does not work.
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.
In a recent paper, Kalamidas has advanced a new proposal of faster than light communication which has not yet been proved invalid. In this paper we show that, as all previous proposals, it does not work. The mistake arises from an inappropriate use of some approximations.
We propose an experimental implementation of a quantum game algorithm in a hybrid scheme combining the quantum circuit approach and the cluster state model. An economical cluster configuration is suggested to embody a quantum version of the Prisoners' Dilemma. Our proposal is shown to be within the experimental state-of-art and can be realized with existing technology. The effects of relevant experimental imperfections are also carefully examined.
In this letter, we show that the laser Hamiltonian can perform the quantum search. We also show that the process of quantum search is a resonance between the initial state and the target state, which implies that Nature already has a quantum search system to use a transition of energy. In addition, we provide the particular scheme to implement the quantum search algorithm based on a trapped ion.
We make a proposal for a Gedanken experiment, based on the Aharonov-Bohm effect, how to measure in principle the zig-zagness of the trajectory of propagation (abberation from its classical trajectory) of a massive particle in quantum mechanics. Experiment I is conceived to show that contributions from quantum paths abberating from the classical trajectory are directly observable. Experiment II is conceived to measure average length, scaling behavior and critical exponent (Hausdorff dimension) of quantum mechanical paths.
Purpose of this paper is to suggest a scheme, which can be realised with today's technology and could be used for entangling a probe to a photon qubit based on polarisation. Using this probe a translucent or a coherent eavesdropping can be performed.
We propose an eavesdropping experiment with linear optical 1-3 phase-covariant quantum cloner. In this paper, we have designed an optical circuit of the cloner and shown how the eavesdropper (Eve) utilizes her clones. We have also optimized the measurement scheme for Eve by numerical calculation. The optimized measurement is easy to implement with liner optics.
An optimal estimator of quantum states based on a modified Kalman's Filter is proposed in this work. Such estimator acts after state measurement, allowing obtain an optimal estimation of quantum state resulting in the output of any quantum algorithm. This method is much more accurate than other types of quantum measurements, such as, weak measurement, strong measurement, quantum state tomography, among others.
Two distant systems can exhibit quantum nonlocality even though the correlations between them admit a local model. This nonlocality can be revealed by testing extra correlations between successive measurements on one of the systems which do not admit a noncontextual model whatever the reduced state of this system is. This shows that quantum contextuality plays a fundamental role in quantum nonlocality, and allows an experimental test of the Kochen-Specker with locality theorem.
An experimental proposal certification for any three-qubit generalized Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states based on the fine-grained steering inequality
We propose a scheme to implement quantum controlled NOT gate and quantum phase gate in an optomechanical system based on phonon blockade. For appropriate choices of system parameters, fidelities of both the quantum gate operations are very close to unity in the absence of dissipation. Using recently achieved experimental values in a mechanical resonator coupled to a microwave cavity, we show that the quantum gate can be realized experimentally with very high fidelity.
Large optical nonlinearities occurring in a coherently prepared atomic system are shown to produce phase shifts of order $π$. Such an effect may be observed in ultracold rubidium atoms where it could be feasibly exploited toward the realization of a polarization phase gate.
We present and analyze a proposal for a macroscopic quantum delayed-choice experiment with massive mechanical resonators. In our approach, the electronic spin of a single nitrogen-vacancy impurity is employed to control the coherent coupling between the mechanical modes of two carbon nanotubes. We demonstrate that a mechanical phonon can be in a coherent superposition of wave and particle, thus exhibiting both behaviors at the same time. We also discuss the mechanical noise tolerable in our proposal and predict a critical temperature below which the morphing between wave and particle states ca…
We compute rigorously the ground and equilibrium states for Kitaev's model in 2D, both the finite and infinite version, using an analogy with the 1D Ising ferromagnet. Next, we investigate the structure of the reduced dynamics in the presence of thermal baths in the Markovian regime. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of the topological freedoms which have been proposed for storing quantum information.
We propose a way to implement a three-qubit refined Deutsh-Jozsa (DJ) algorithm. The present proposal is based on the construction of the 35 $f$-controlled phase gates, which uses single-qubit $σ_z$ gates and two-qubit {\it standard} controlled-phase (CP) gates only. This proposal is implementable because a single-qubit $σ_z$ gate can be easily realized by applying a single classical pulse and a two-qubit CP gate has been experimentally demonstrated in various physical systems. Finally, it is noted that this proposal is quite general, and can be applied to implement a three-qubit refined DJ al…
We propose a protocol for two-qubit quantum phase gate based upon reflection of photon pulses from a quantum dot in a cavity. Depending on the state of the quantum dot the reflected photons acquire a conditional phase shift. The key ingredient is the ultrafast control of the quantum dot energies by electric fields, which allows for tuning the exciton and biexciton successively into resonance with the cavity mode. The complete dynamics of the gate are simulated revealing a fidelity of about 0.9. The proposed scheme uses position-coding and is therefore well suited to the implementation in an in…
A method to suppress noise, which is one of the major obstacles to obtain an optimal solution in quantum annealers, is proposed. We generalize the conventionally used Hamiltonian, i.e., the transverse field Hamiltonian, by introducing an ancillary system, which leads to cancellation of the effect of noise on the system under consideration for some typical cases. We also confirm numerically that the method is effective for a kind of noise usually encountered in the case of flux qubit.
A change of quantum states for a quantum particle may lead to a change of physical field it exerts to the environment. We discuss such Gedankenexperiment for measuring the magnetic dipole fields associated with the electronic spins. When entangled, electrons are no longer free Dirac electrons but become an excited state in a quantum-electrodynamics sense. A measurement of magnetism associated with entanglement-collapse of electrons becomes a test for Copenhagen interpretation in the reign of quantum-electrodynamics. This proposal is equally applicable to other particles and their associated fi…
We propose performing quantum optics experiments in an ground-to-space scenario using the International Space Station, which is equipped with a glass viewing window and a photographer's lens mounted on a motorized camera pod. A dedicated small add-on module with single-photon detection, time-tagging and classical communication capabilities would enable us to perform the first-ever quantum optics experiments in space. We present preliminary design concepts for the ground and flight segments and study the feasibility of the intended mission scenario.
Quantum computers require technologies that offer both sufficient control over coherent quantum phenomena and minimal spurious interactions with the environment. We show, that photons confined to photonic crystals, and in particular to highly efficient waveguides formed from linear chains of defects doped with atoms can generate strong non-linear interactions which allow to implement both single and two qubit quantum gates. The simplicity of the gate switching mechanism, the experimental feasibility of fabricating two dimensional photonic crystal structures and integrability of this device wit…
Quantum non-locality based on the well-known Bell inequality is of kinematic nature. A different type of quantum non-locality, the non-locality of the quantum equation of motion, is recently put forward with connection to the Aharonov-Bohm effect [Nature Phys. 6, 151 (2010)]. Evolution of the displacement operator provides an example to manifest such dynamic quantum non-locality. We propose an experiment using single-atom interferometry to test such dynamic quantum non-locality. We show how to measure evolution of the displacement operator with clod atoms in a spin-dependent optical lattice po…
Recently, dimensionality testing of a quantum state has received extensive attention (Ac{í}n et al. Phys. Rev. Letts. 2006, Scarani et al. Phys. Rev. Letts. 2006). Security proofs of existing quantum information processing protocols rely on the assumption about the dimension of quantum states in which logical bits are encoded. However, removing such assumption may cause security loophole. In the present paper, we show that this is indeed the case. We choose two players' quantum private query protocol by Yang et al. (Quant. Inf. Process. 2014) as an example and show how one player can gain an u…
Two alternative interpretations of the quantum collapse are proposed: a time-ordered and a timeless one. The time-ordered interpretation implies that the speed of light can be defined in an absolute way, while the timeless quantum collapse implies relativity and can be reckoned as covariant too. An experiment is proposed to decide between these two interpretations, which may also be considered a test of Bohm's "preferred frame" assumption.
A scheme is proposed for preparing delocalised mesoscopic states of the motion of two or more atoms trapped at distantly-separated locations. Generation of entanglement is achieved using interactions in cavity quantum electrodynamics which facilitate motional quantum state transmission, via light, between separate nodes of a quantum network. Possible applications of the scheme are discussed.
Due to their high coherence, a laser is a ubiquitous tool in science. We show that by engineering the coupling between the gain medium and the laser cavity as well as the laser cavity and the output port, it is possible to eliminate most of the noise due to photons entering as well as leaving the laser cavity. Hence, it is possible to reduce the laser linewidth by a factor equal to the number of photons in the laser cavity below the standard quantum limit. We design and theoretically analyze a superconducting circuit that uses Josephson junctions, capacitors and inductors to implement a microw…
We formulate a paradox in relation to the description of a joint entity consisting of two subentities by standard quantum mechanics. We put forward a proposal for a possible solution, entailing the interpretation of density states as pure states. We explain where the inspiration for this proposal comes from and how its validity can be tested experimentally. We discuss the consequences on quantum axiomatics of the proposal.
In device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD), the violation of a Bell inequality is exploited to establish a shared key that is secure independently of the internal workings of the QKD devices. An experimental implementation of DIQKD, however, is still awaited, since hitherto all optical Bell tests are subject to the detection loophole, making the protocol unsecured. In particular, photon losses in the quantum channel represent a fundamental limitation for DIQKD. Here, we introduce a heralded qubit amplifier based on single-photon sources and linear optics that provides a realistic s…
We propose a way for implementing quantum information transfer with two superconducting flux qubits, by coupling them to a resonator. This proposal does not require adjustment of the level spacings or uniformity in the device parameters. Moreover, neither adiabatic passage nor a second-order detuning is needed by this proposal, thus the operation can be performed much faster when compared with the previous proposals.
We show that time translation symmetry of a ring system with a macroscopic quantum ground state is broken by decoherence. In particular, we consider a ring-shaped incommensurate charge density wave (ICDW ring) threaded by a fluctuating magnetic flux: the Caldeira-Leggett model is used to model the fluctuating flux as a bath of harmonic oscillators. We show that the charge density expectation value of a quantized ICDW ring coupled to its environment oscillates periodically. The Hamiltonians considered in this model are time independent unlike "Floquet time crystals" considered recently. Our mod…
We propose an experiment with two coupled microwave cavities and a "tunneling" photon observed by the passage of Rydberg atoms. We model the coupled cavities as in Ref. \cite{art1} and include dissipative effects as well as limited detection efficiency. We also consider realistic finite atom-field interaction times and provide for a simple analytical expression for the photon "tunneling" probability including all these effects. We show that for sufficiently small dissipation constants the effect can be observed with current experimental facilities.
We propose a scheme feasible with current technology to implement a quantum delayed-choice experiment in the realm of cavity QED. Our scheme uses two-level atoms interacting on and off resonantly with a single mode of a high Q cavity. At the end of the protocol, the state of the cavity returns to its ground state, allowing new sequential operations. The particle and wave behavior, which are verified in a single experimental setup, are postselected after the atomic states are selectively detected.
We formulate and analyze a double-slit proposal for quantum annealing, which involves observing the probability of finding a two-level system (TLS) undergoing evolution from a transverse to a longitudinal field in the ground state at the final time $t_f$. We demonstrate that for annealing schedules involving two consecutive diabatic transitions, an interference effect is generated akin to a double-slit experiment. The observation of oscillations in the ground state probability as a function of $t_f$ (before the adiabatic limit sets in) then constitutes a sensitive test of coherence between ene…
We propose a feasible scheme to implement a universal set of quantum gates based on geometric phases and superadiabatic quantum control. Consolidating the advantages of both strategies, the proposed quantum gates are robust and fast. The diamond nitrogen-vacancy center system is adopted as a typical example to illustrate the scheme. We show that these gates can be realized in a simple two-level configuration by appropriately controlling the amplitude, phase, and frequency of just one microwave field. The gate's robust and fast features are confirmed by comparing the fidelity of the proposed su…
The quantum geometric potential is a gauge invariant carrying novel geometric features between any two energy levels or bands in quantum systems. In generic time-dependent systems it gives a vital physical modification for the instantaneous energy gaps, laying down more appropriate quantum adiabatic conditions for both non-degenerate and degenerate systems. Remarkably, for generic parameterized quantum systems, the integration of the quantum geometric potential on a closed loop leads to a novel type of quantized winding number, which is a quantum counterpart of the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. The ef…
We propose a scheme for teleporting an atomic center-of-mass wave function between distant locations. The scheme uses interactions in cavity quantum electrodynamics to facilitate a coupling between the motion of an atom trapped inside a cavity and external propagating light fields. This enables the distribution of quantum entanglement and the realization of the required motional Bell-state analysis.
We propose an experiment where a photon is first cloned by stimulated parametric down-conversion, making many (imperfect) copies, and then the cloning transformation is inverted, regenerating the original photon while destroying the copies. Focusing on the case where the initial photon is entangled with another photon, we study the conditions under which entanglement can be proven in the final state. The proposed experiment would provide a clear demonstration that quantum information is preserved in quantum cloning. It would furthermore allow a definitive experimental proof for micro-macro ent…
We propose a quantum optics experiment where a single two-mode Gaussian entangled state is used for realizing the paradigm of an amendable Gaussian channel recently presented in Phys. Rev. A, \textbf{87}, 062307 (2013). Depending on the choice of the experimental parameters the entanglement of the probe state is preserved or not and the relative map belongs or not to the class of entanglement breaking channels. The scheme has been optimized to be as simple as possible: it requires only a single active non-linear operation followed by four passive beam-splitters. The effects of losses, detectio…
