Decoy state method for measurement device independent quantum key distribution with different intensities in only one basis

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simplified three-intensity protocol for measurement device independent quantum key distribution that uses different light intensities in only one basis, improving key rates and reducing intensity mismatch issues.

Contribution

The method allows using different intensities in only one basis for MDI QKD, enhancing key rates and reducing complexity compared to existing protocols.

Findings

Significant improvement in key rates demonstrated numerically.

Fewer light intensities reduce intensity mismatch.

Lower bounds in one basis can be applied to the other.

Abstract

We show that the three-intensity protocol for measurement device independent quantum key distribution (MDI QKD) can be done with different light intensities in {\em only one} basis. Given the fact that the exact values yields of single-photon pairs in the $X$ and $Z$ bases must be the same, if we have lower bound of the value in one basis, we can also use this as the lower bound in another basis. Since in the existing set-up for MDI-QKD, the yield of sources in different bases are normally different, therefore our method can improve the key rate drastically if we choose to only use the lower bound of yield of single-photon pairs in the advantageous basis. Moreover, since our proposal here uses fewer intensities of light, the probability of intensity mismatch will be smaller than the existing protocols do. This will further improve the advantage of our method. The advantage of using Z basis or X basis of our method is studied and significant improvement of key rates are numerically demonstrated.