Practical quantum key distribution over 60 hours at an optical fiber distance of 20km using weak and vacuum decoy pulses for enhanced security

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a continuous 60-hour quantum key distribution experiment over 20km fiber using decoy pulses, achieving the highest secret key rate reported for this setup, enhancing security and practicality.

Contribution

It presents the first long-duration continuous quantum key distribution over 20km fiber with decoy pulses, achieving record secret key rates for this protocol and duration.

Findings

Secret key rate exceeds 10 kbps on average

First demonstration of 60-hour continuous QKD over 20km fiber

Decoy protocol with weak and vacuum pulses enhances security

Abstract

Experimental one-way decoy pulse quantum key distribution running continuously for 60 hours is demonstrated over a fiber distance of 20km. We employ a decoy protocol which involves one weak decoy pulse and a vacuum pulse. The obtained secret key rate is on average over 10kbps. This is the highest rate reported using this decoy protocol over this fiber distance and duration.