We analyze various eavesdropping strategies on a quantum cryptographic channel. We present the optimal strategy for an eavesdropper restricted to a two-dimensional probe, interacting on-line with each transmitted signal. The link between safety of the transmission and the violation of Bell's inequality is discussed. We also use a quantum copying machine for eavesdropping and for broadcasting quantum information.
We describe a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment which implements an efficient one-to-two qubit phase-covariant cloning machine(QPCCM). In the experiment we have achieved remarkably high fidelities of cloning, 0.848 and 0.844 respectively for the original and the blank qubit. This experimental value is close to the optimal theoretical value of 0.854. We have also demonstrated how to use our phase-covariant cloning machine for quantum simulations of bit by bit eavesdropping in the four-state quantum key distribution protocol.
The security of quantum cryptography is guaranteed by the no-cloning theorem, which implies that an eavesdropper copying transmitted qubits in unknown states causes their disturbance. Nevertheless, in real cryptographic systems some level of disturbance has to be allowed to cover, e.g., transmission losses. An eavesdropper can attack such systems by replacing a noisy channel by a better one and by performing approximate cloning of transmitted qubits which disturb them but below the noise level assumed by legitimate users. We experimentally demonstrate such symmetric individual eavesdropping on…
We consider one of the quantum key distribution protocols recently introduced in Ref. [Pirandola et al., Nature Physics 4, 726 (2008)]. This protocol consists in a two-way quantum communication between Alice and Bob, where Alice encodes secret information via a random phase-space displacement of a coherent state. In particular, we study its security against a specific class of individual attacks which are based on combinations of Gaussian quantum cloning machines.
We study optimal eavesdropping in quantum cryptography with three-dimensional systems, and show that this scheme is more secure than protocols using two-dimensional states. We generalize the according eavesdropping transformation to arbitrary dimensions, and discuss the connection with optimal quantum cloning.
Recently Gupta and Panigrahi have shown how to deterministically identify an unknown Bell state. The present paper extends their result to deterministic cloning.
Intermediate states are known from intercept/resend eavesdropping in the BB84 quantum cryptographic protocol. But they also play fundamental roles in the optimal eavesdropping strategy on BB84 and in the CHSH inequality. We generalize the intermediate states to arbitrary dimension and consider intercept/resend eavesdropping, optimal eavesdropping on the generalized BB84 protocol and present a generalized CHSH inequality for two entangled quNits based on these states.
We investigate the connection between quantum no-cloning theorem and Bell's theorem. Designing some Bell's inequalities, we show that quantum no-cloning theorem can always be certified by Bell's theorem, and this fact in turn reflects that our physical world is essentially nonlocal.
Quantum secret-sharing protocols involving N partners (NQSS) are key distribution protocols in which Alice encodes her key into $N-1$ qubits, in such a way that all the other partners must cooperate in order to retrieve the key. On these protocols, several eavesdropping scenarios are possible: some partners may want to reconstruct the key without the help of the other ones, and consequently collaborate with an Eve that eavesdrops on the other partners' channels. For each of these scenarios, we give the optimal individual attack that the Eve can perform. In case of such an optimal attack, the a…
We consider an N -> M quantum cloning transformation acting on pure two-level states lying on the equator of the Bloch sphere. An upper bound for its fidelity is presented, by establishing a connection between optimal phase covariant cloning and phase estimation. We give the explicit form of a cloning transformation that achieves the bound for the case N=1, M=2, and find a link between this case and optimal eavesdropping in the quantum cryptographic scheme BB84.
The necessary and sufficient amount of entanglement required for cloning of orthogonal Bell states by local operation and classical communication is derived, and using this result, we provide here some additional examples of reversible, as well as irreversible states.
The impossibility of perfectly copying (or cloning) an arbitrary quantum state is one of the basic rules governing the physics of quantum systems. The processes that perform the optimal approximate cloning have been found in many cases. These "quantum cloning machines" are important tools for studying a wide variety of tasks, e.g. state estimation and eavesdropping on quantum cryptography. This paper provides a comprehensive review of quantum cloning machines (both for discrete-dimensional and for continuous-variable quantum systems); in addition, it presents the role of cloning in quantum cry…
We analyze a possibility of using the two qubit output state from Buzek-Hillery quantum copying machine (not necessarily universal quantum cloning machine) as a teleportation channel. We show that there is a range of values of the machine parameter $ξ$ for which the two qubit output state is entangled and violates Bell-CHSH inequality and for a different range it remains entangled but does not violate Bell-CHSH inequality. Further we observe that for certain values of the machine parameter the two-qubit mixed state can be used as a teleportation channel. The use of the output state from the Bu…
All incoherent as well as 2- and 3-qubit coherent eavesdropping strategies on the 6 state protocol of quantum cryptography are classified. For a disturbance of 1/6, the optimal incoherent eavesdropping strategy reduces to the universal quantum cloning machine. Coherent eavesdropping cannot increase Eve's Shannon information, neither on the entire string of bits, nor on the set of bits received undisturbed by Bob. However, coherent eavesdropping can increase as well Eve's Renyi information as her probability of guessing correctly all bits. The case that Eve delays the measurement of her probe u…
Passive light-source side channel in quantum key distribution (QKD) makes the quantum signals more distinguishable thus provides additional information about the quantum signal to an eavesdropper. The explicit eavesdropping strategies aimed at the passive side channel known to date were limited to the separate measurement of the passive side channel in addition to the operational degree of freedom. Here we show how to account for the joint eavesdropping on both operational degree of freedom and the passive side channel of the generic form. In particular, we use the optimal phase-covariant clon…
We analyze a reversibility of optimal Gaussian $1\to 2$ quantum cloning of a coherent state using only local operations on the clones and classical communication between them and propose a feasible experimental test of this feature. Performing Bell-type homodyne measurement on one clone and anti-clone, an arbitrary unknown input state (not only a coherent state) can be restored in the other clone by applying appropriate local unitary displacement operation. We generalize this concept to a partial LOCC reversal of the cloning and we show that this procedure converts the symmetric cloner to an a…
A symmetric 1 to 2 quantum cloning machine (QCM) is presented that provides high-fidelity copies with $0.90 \le F \le 0.95$ for all pure (single-qubit) input states from a given meridian of the Bloch sphere. \cor{Emphasize is placed especially on the states of the (so-called) Eastern meridian, that includes the computational basis states $\ketm{0}, \ketm{1}$ together with the diagonal state $\ketm{+} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} (\ketm{0} + \ketm{1})$, for which suggested cloning transformation is shown to be optimal.} In addition, we also show how this QCM can be utilized for eavesdropping in Bennett…
Cloning machines, that is, transformations that achieve the best approximate copying of a quantum state compatible with the no-cloning theorem, have been a fundamental research topic over the last five years. This study is of particular significance given the close connection between quantum cloning and quantum cryptography: using an optimal cloner generally makes it possible to obtain a tight bound on the best individual eavesdropping strategy in a quantum cryptosystem. In this Chapter, the issue of cloning a continuous-variable quantum system will be analyzed, and a Gaussian cloning transfor…
A generalization of the quantum cryptographic protocol by Bennett and Brassard is discussed, using three conjugate bases, i.e. six states. By calculating the optimal mutual information between sender and eavesdropper it is shown that this scheme is safer against eavesdropping on single qubits than the one based on two conjugate bases. We also address the question for a connection between the maximal classical correlation in a generalized Bell inequality and the intersection of mutual informations between sender/receiver and sender/eavesdropper.
A degree of violation of the Bell inequality depends on momenta of massive particles with respect to a laboratory if spin plays a role af a "yes--no" observable. For ultra-relativistic particles the standard Ekert test has to take into accont this velocity dependent suppression of the degree of violation of the inequality. Otherwise Alice and Bob may "discover" a nonexisting eavesdropper.
In a Letter, Cabello proposed a quantum key distribution (QKD) Protocol which attended to Holevo limit. In this comment, we show that Eve could use a simple plan to distinguish among quantum keys, without being detected by Alice and Bob. In following, we show that our approach is not restricted to Cabello Protocol. With attention to our Eavesdropping approach, it seems that Mor's arguments for no-cloning principal for orthogonal states is not general enough to avoid eavesdropping.
Using polarization-entangled photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion, we have implemented Ekert's quantum cryptography protocol. The near-perfect correlations of the photons allow the sharing of a secret key between two parties. The presence of an eavesdropper is continually checked by measuring Bell's inequalities. We investigated several possible eavesdropper strategies, including pseudo-quantum non-demolition measurements. In all cases, the eavesdropper's presence was readily apparent. We discuss a procedure to increase her detectability.
We investigate the security of continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD) using coherent states and reverse reconciliation against Gaussian individual attacks based on an optimal Gaussian $1 \to 2$ cloning machine. We provide an implementation of the optimal Gaussian individual attack. we also find a Bell-measurement attack which works without delayed choice of measurements and has better performance than the cloning attack.
We present a generalized Bell inequality for two entangled quNits. On one quNit the choice is between two standard von Neumann measurements, whereas for the other quNit there are $N^2$ different binary measurements. These binary measurements are related to the intermediate states known from eavesdropping in quantum cryptography. The maximum violation by $\sqrt{N}$ is reached for the maximally entangled state. Moreover, for N=2 it coincides with the familiar CHSH-inequality.
We show theoretically that the multi-photon states obtained by cloning single-photon qubits via stimulated emission can be distinguished with the naked human eye with high efficiency and fidelity. Focusing on the "micro-macro" situation realized in a recent experiment [F. De Martini, F. Sciarrino, and C. Vitelli, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 253601 (2008)], where one photon from an original entangled pair is detected directly, whereas the other one is greatly amplified, we show that performing a Bell experiment with human-eye detectors for the amplified photon appears realistic, even when losses are …
We investigate the connection between the optimal collective eavesdropping attack and the optimal cloning attack where the eavesdropper employs an optimal cloner to attack the quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol. The analysis is done in the context of the security proof in [Devetak and Winter, Proc. of the Roy. Soc. of London Series A, 461, 207 (2005); Kraus, Gisin and Renner, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 080501 (2005)] for discrete variable protocols in d-dimensional Hilbert spaces. We consider a scenario in which the protocols and cloners are equipped with symmetries. These symmetries are used t…
We review the status of Bell's inequalities in quantum information, stressing mainly the links with quantum key distribution and distillation of entanglement. We also prove that for all the eavesdropping attacks using one qubit, and for a family of attacks of two qubits, acting on half of a maximally entangled state of two qubits, the violation of a Bell inequality implies the possibility of an efficient secret-key extraction.
We propose a feasible scheme of conditional quantum partial teleportation of a qubit as optimal asymmetric cloning at a distance. In this scheme, Alice preserves one imperfect clone whereas other clone is teleported to Bob. Fidelities of the clones can be simply controlled by an asymmetry in Bell-state measurement. The optimality means that tightest inequality for the fidelities in the asymmetric cloning is saturated. Further we design a conditional teleportation as symmetric optimal N-> N+1 cloning from N Alice's replicas on single distant clone. We shortly discussed two feasible experimental…
We consider the Bennett-Brassard cryptographic scheme, which uses two conjugate quantum bases. An eavesdropper who attempts to obtain information on qubits sent in one of the bases causes a disturbance to qubits sent in the other basis. We derive an upper bound to the accessible information in one basis, for a given error rate in the conjugate basis. Independently fixing the error rate in the conjugate bases, we show that both bounds can be attained simultaneously by an optimal eavesdropping probe, consisting of two qubits. The qubits' interaction and their subsequent measurement are described…
We propose a probabilistic quantum cloning scheme using Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, Bell basis measurements, single-qubit unitary operations and generalized measurements, all of which are within the reach of current technology. Compared to another possible scheme via Tele-CNOT gate [D. Gottesman and I. L. Chuang, Nature 402, 390 (1999)], the present scheme may be used in experiment to clone the states of one particle to those of two different particles with higher probability and less GHZ resources.
Using the generalized Bell states and controlled not gates, we introduce an enatanglement-based quantum key distribution (QKD) of d-level states (qudits). In case of eavesdropping, Eve's information gain is zero and a quantum error rate of (d-1)/d is introduced in Bob's received qudits, so that for large d, comparison of only a tiny fraction of received qudits with the sent ones can detect the presence of Eve.
We derive monogamy relations (tradeoffs) between strengths of violations of Bell's inequalities from the non-signaling condition. Our result applies to general Bell inequalities with an arbitrary large number of partners, outcomes and measurement settings. The method is simple, efficient and does not require linear programming. The results are used to derive optimal fidelity for asymmetric cloning in nonsignaling theories.
We investigate the problem of cloning a set of states that is invariant under the action of an irreducible group representation. We then characterize the cloners that are "extremal" in the convex set of group covariant cloning machines, among which one can restrict the search for optimal cloners. For a set of states that is invariant under the discrete Weyl-Heisenberg group, we show that all extremal cloners can be unitarily realized using the so-called "double-Bell states", whence providing a general proof of the popular ansatz used in the literature for finding optimal cloners in a variety o…
We present a novel Bell-state analyzer for time-bin qubits allowing the detection of three out of four Bell-states with linear optics, only two detectors and no auxiliary photons. The theoretical success rate of this scheme is 50%. A teleportation experiment was performed to demonstrate its functionality. We also present a teleportation experiment with a fidelity larger than the cloning limit.
We prove generic versions of the no-cloning and no-broadcasting theorems, applicable to essentially {\em any} non-classical finite-dimensional probabilistic model that satisfies a no-signaling criterion. This includes quantum theory as well as models supporting ``super-quantum'' correlations that violate the Bell inequalities to a larger extent than quantum theory. The proof of our no-broadcasting theorem is significantly more natural and more self-contained than others we have seen: we show that a set of states is broadcastable if, and only if, it is contained in a simplex whose vertices are …
We present a Bell-state analyzer for time-bin qubits allowing the detection of three out of four Bell-states with linear optics, two detectors and no auxiliary photons. The theoretical success rate of this scheme is 50%. A teleportation experiment was performed to demonstrate its functionality. We also present a teleportation experiment with a Fidelity larger than the cloning limit of F=5/6.
A scheme is proposed by which two parties, Alice and Bob, can securely exchange real numbers. The scheme requires Alice and Bob to share entanglement and both to perform Bell-state measurements. With a qubit system two real numbers can each be sent by Alice and Bob, resulting in four real numbers shared by them. The number of real numbers that can be shared increases if higher-dimensional systems are utilized. The number of significant figures of each shared real number depends upon the number of Bell-state measurements that Alice and Bob perform. The security of the scheme against individual …
The study of quantum cryptography and quantum entanglement has traditionally been based on two-level quantum systems (qubits) and more recently on three-level systems (qutrits). We investigate several classes of state-dependent quantum cloners for four-level systems (quartits). These results apply to symmetric as well as asymmetric cloners, so that the balance between the fidelity of the two clones can also be analyzed. We extend Cerf's formalism for cloning states in order to derive cloning machines that remain invariant under certain unitary transformations. Our results show that a different…
We present a generalized tomographic quantum key distribution protocol in which the two parties share a Bell diagonal mixed state of two qubits. We show that if an eavesdropper performs a coherent measurement on many quantum ancilla states simultaneously, classical methods of secure key distillation are less effective than quantum entanglement distillation protocols. We also show that certain Bell diagonal states are resistant to any attempt of incoherent eavesdropping.
Quantum steering in a global state allows an observer to remotely steer a subsystem into different ensembles by performing different local measurements on the other part. We show that, in general, this property cannot be perfectly cloned by any joint operation between a steered subsystem and a third system. Perfect cloning is viable if and only if the initial state is of zero discord. We also investigate the process of cloning the steered qubit of a Bell state using a universal cloning machine. Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering, which is a type of quantum correlation existing in the state…
A quantum key distribution and identification protocol is proposed, which is based on entanglement swapping. Through choosing particles by twos from the sequence and performing Bell measurements, two communicators can detect eavesdropping, identify each other and obtain the secure key according to the measurement results. Because the two particles measured together are selected out randomly, we need neither alternative measurements nor rotation of the Bell states. Furthermore, less Bell measurements are needed in our protocol than in the previous similar ones.
After a brief introduction to the quantum no-cloning theorem and its link with the linearity and causality of quantum mechanics, the concept of quantum cloning machines is sketched, following, whenever possible, the chronology of the main results. The important classes of quantum cloning machines are reviewed, in particular state-independent and state-dependent cloning machines. The 1-to-2 cloning problem is then studied from a formal point of view, using the isomorphism between completely positive maps and operators, which leads to the so-called double-Bell ansatz. This also yields an efficie…
We propose a novel double-entanglement-based quantum cryptography protocol that is both efficient and deterministic. The proposal uses photon pairs with entanglement both in polarization and in time degrees of freedom; each measurement in which both of the two communicating parties register a photon can establish one and only one perfect correlation and thus deterministically create a key bit. Eavesdropping can be detected by violation of local realism. A variation of the protocol shows a higher security, similarly to the six-state protocol, under individual attacks. Our scheme allows a robust…
We propose a local scheme to enhance the security of quantum key distribution in Ekert protocol (E91). Our proposal is a fair sampling test meant to detect an eavesdropping attempt that would use a biased sample to mimic an apparent violation of Bell inequalities. The test is local and non disruptive: it can be unilaterally performed at any time by either Alice or Bob during the production of the key, and together with the Bell inequality test.
A quantum key distribution protocol based on entanglement swapping is proposed. Through choosing particles by twos from the sequence and performing Bell measurements, two communicators can detect eavesdropping and obtain the secure key. Because the two particles measured together are selected out randomly, we need neither alternative measurements nor rotations of the Bell states to obtain security.
Resonant dissipation-enabled adiabatic quantum state transfer processes between the polarization degrees of freedom of a single photon wave packet and quantum emitters are discussed. These investigations generalize previous work [N. Trautmann and G. Alber, Phys. Rev. A 93, 053807 (2015)] by taking into account the properties of the spontaneously emitted photon wave packet and of non adiabatic corrections. It is demonstrated that the photonic degrees of freedoms of these adiabatic one-photon quantum state transfer processes can be used for the passive, heralded and deterministic preparation of …
Can a Bell test with no detection loophole be demonstrated for multi-photon entangled states of light within the current technology? We examine the possibility of a postselection-free CHSH-Bell inequality test wih an unsymmetrical polarization singlet. To that end we employ a preselection procedure which is performed prior to the test. It allows using imperfect (coarse-grained) binary photodetection in the test. We show an example of preselection scheme which improves violation of the CHSH inequality with the micro-macro polarization singlet produced by the optimal quantum cloning. The presele…
Quantum coherence (QCh) is considered to be a key ingredient in quantum resource theories and also plays a pivotal role in the design and implementation of various information processing tasks. Consequently, it becomes important for us to create more number coherent quantum states between two labs from a given coherent state shared initially. We call this process as \textbf{Broadcasting of Quantum Coherence (QCh)}. In this work we extensively study the problem of broadcasting of QCh. In order to have a holistic view of broadcasting, we start with a most general representation two qubit mixed s…
The recent application of the principles of quantum mechanics to cryptography has led to a remarkable new dimension in secret communication. As a result of these new developments, it is now possible to construct cryptographic communication systems which detect unauthorized eavesdropping should it occur, and which give a guarantee of no eavesdropping should it not occur. CONTENTS P3. Cryptographic systems before quantum cryptography P7. Preamble to quantum cryptography P10. The BB84 quantum cryptographic protocol without noise P16. The BB84 quantum cryptographic protocol with noise P19..The B92…
A multiparty quantum secret sharing (QSS) protocol is proposed by using swapping quantum entanglement of Bell states. The secret messages are imposed on Bell states by local unitary operations. The secret messages are split into several parts and each part is distributed to a party so that no action of a subset of all the parties but their entire cooperation is able to read out the secret messages. In addition, the dense coding is used in this protocol to achieve a high efficiency. The security of the present multiparty QSS against eavesdropping has been analyzed and confirmed even in a noisy …
We propose a theoretical scheme for secure quantum key distribution network following the ideas in quantum dense coding. In this scheme, the server of the network provides the service for preparing and measuring the Bell states, and the users encodes the states with local unitary operations. For preventing the server from eavesdropping, we design a decoy when the particle is transmitted between the users. It has high capacity as one particle carries two bits of information and its efficiency for qubits approaches 100%. Moreover, it is not necessary for the users to store the quantum states, wh…
Based on the ideal of order rearrangement and block transmission of photons, we present a quantum secure direct communication scheme using single photons. The security of the present scheme is ensured by quantum no-cloning theory and the secret transmitting order of photons. The present scheme is efficient in that all of the polarized photons are used to transmit the sender's secret message except those chosen for eavesdropping check. We also generalize this scheme to a multiparty controlled quantum secret direct communication scheme which the sender's secret message can only be recovered by t…
We analyze the security of quantum cryptography schemes for $d$-level systems using 2 or $d+1$ maximally conjugated bases, under individual eavesdropping attacks based on cloning machines and measurement after the basis reconciliation. We consider classical advantage distillation protocols, that allow to extract a key even in situations where the mutual information between the honest parties is smaller than the eavesdropper's information. In this scenario, advantage distillation protocols are shown to be as powerful as quantum distillation: key distillation is possible using classical techniqu…
A quantum key distribution protocol is proposed that is a variation of BB84 that provides raw key generation from correlations that violate a Bell-type inequality for single qubit systems and not entangled pairs. Additionally, it 1) is state-independent, 2) involves two-way classical communication, and 3) does not require basis matching between the two parties. The Brukner-Taylor-Cheung-Vedral (BTCV) time-like form of the Bell-CHSH inequality [C. Brukner, S. Taylor, S. Cheung, V. Vedral arXiv:quant-ph/0402127] is employed as an eavesdropping check; sequential measurements lead to an inequality…
A large payload quantum steganography protocol based on cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) is presented in the paper, which effectively uses the evolution law of atom in cavity QED. The protocol builds up hidden channel to transmit secret messages using entanglement swapping between one GHZ state and one Bell state in cavity QED together with the Hadamard operation. The quantum steganography protocol is insensitive to cavity decay and thermal field. The capacity, imperceptibility and security against eavesdropping are analyzed in detail in the protocol. It turns out that the protocol not onl…
Major obstacles against efficient long distance quantum communication are photon losses during transmission and the probabilistic nature of Bell measurement causing exponential scaling in time and resource with distance. To overcome these difficulties, while conventional quantum repeaters require matter-based operations with long-lived quantum memories, recent proposals have employed encoded multiple photons in entanglement, providing an alternative way for scalability. In pursuing scalable quantum communications, naturally arising questions are thus whether any ultimate limit exists in all-op…
