Experimental Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution with Imperfect Sources

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution experiment that accounts for source imperfections, successfully distributing secure keys over fiber links up to 40 km, thus enhancing practical security.

Contribution

It presents the first MDI-QKD experiment considering source flaws using a novel security proof, enabling secure key distribution with imperfect devices.

Findings

Secure keys distributed over 40 km fiber links

Inclusion of source flaws in security analysis

Feasibility of practical secure QKD with imperfect devices

Abstract

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), which is immune to all detector side-channel attacks, is the most promising solution to the security issues in practical quantum key distribution systems. Though several experimental demonstrations of MDI QKD have been reported, they all make one crucial but not yet verified assumption, that is there are no flaws in state preparation. Such an assumption is unrealistic and security loopholes remain in the source. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first MDI-QKD experiment with state preparation flaws taken into consideration. By applying a novel security proof by Tamaki \textit{et al} (Phys. Rev. A 90, 052314 (2014)), we distribute secure keys over fiber links up to 40 km with imperfect sources, which would not have been possible under previous security proofs. By closing loopholes in both the sources and the detectors, our work shows the feasibility of secure QKD with practical imperfect devices.