Securing quantum key distribution systems using fewer states

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that high-dimensional quantum key distribution systems can be secured and simplified by using fewer monitoring states without sacrificing key rate, thus enabling more efficient and robust quantum communication.

Contribution

We show that a subset of monitoring states suffices for security in high-dimensional QKD, reducing complexity while maintaining performance, with experimental validation in a 4-dimensional system.

Findings

No loss in secure key rate when dropping one monitoring state.

Using only a single monitoring state is feasible at low error rates.

Achieved 17.4 Mbits/s secret key rate with simplified setup.

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows two remote users to establish a secret key in the presence of an eavesdropper. The users share quantum states prepared in two mutually-unbiased bases: one to generate the key while the other monitors the presence of the eavesdropper. Here, we show that a general $d$-dimension QKD system can be secured by transmitting only a subset of the monitoring states. In particular, we find that there is no loss in the secure key rate when dropping one of the monitoring states. Furthermore, it is possible to use only a single monitoring state if the quantum bit error rates are low enough. We apply our formalism to an experimental $d=4$ time-phase QKD system, where only one monitoring state is transmitted, and obtain a secret key rate of $17.4 \pm 2.8$ Mbits/s at a 4 dB channel loss and with a quantum bit error rate of $0.045\pm0.001$ and $0.044\pm0.001$ in time and phase bases, respectively, which is 58.4 % of the secret key rate that can be achieved with the full setup. This ratio can be increased, potentially up to 100 %, if the error rates in time and phase basis are reduced. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to substantially simplify the design of high-dimension QKD systems, including those that use the spatial or temporal degrees-of-freedom of the photon, and still outperform qubit-based ($d = 2$) protocols.