Recent developments in quantum key distribution: theory and practice

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in quantum key distribution, comparing different protocols and analyzing their efficiency and security in real-world imperfect conditions, guiding future improvements.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of quantum key distribution schemes, analyzing their performance with realistic imperfections and offering guidelines for component improvements.

Findings

Different protocols vary in efficiency under imperfections

Effective parameters help model experimental faults

Guidelines for component improvements in QKD systems

Abstract

Quantum key distribution is among the foremost applications of quantum mechanics, both in terms of fundamental physics and as a technology on the brink of commercial deployment. Starting from principal schemes and initial proofs of unconditional security for perfect systems, much effort has gone into providing secure schemes which can cope with numerous experimental imperfections unavoidable in real world implementations. In this paper, we provide a comparison of various schemes and protocols. We analyse their efficiency and performance when implemented with imperfect physical components. We consider how experimental faults are accounted for using effective parameters. We compare various protocols and provide guidelines as to which components propose best advances when being improved.