Device Calibration Impacts Security of Quantum Key Distribution

Jain N, Wittmann C, Lydersen L, Wiechers C, Elser DA, Marquardt C, Makarov V, Leuchs G (2011)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Journal

Physical Review Letters American Physical Society

Book Volume: 107

Article Number: 110501

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.110501

Abstract

Characterizing the physical channel and calibrating the cryptosystem hardware are prerequisites for establishing a quantum channel for quantum key distribution (QKD). Moreover, an inappropriately implemented calibration routine can open a fatal security loophole. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a method to induce a large temporal detector efficiency mismatch in a commercial QKD system by deceiving a channel length calibration routine. We then devise an optimal and realistic strategy using faked states to break the security of the cryptosystem. A fix for this loophole is also suggested. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nitin Jain Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik) Christoffer Wittmann Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik) Dominique Elser Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik) Christoph Marquardt Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik) Gerhard Leuchs Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik)

Involved external institutions

NTNU Trondheim - Norwegian University of Science and Technology NO Norway (NO) Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Jain, N., Wittmann, C., Lydersen, L., Wiechers, C., Elser, D.A., Marquardt, C.,... Leuchs, G. (2011). Device Calibration Impacts Security of Quantum Key Distribution. Physical Review Letters, 107(11). https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.110501

MLA:

Jain, Nitin, et al. "Device Calibration Impacts Security of Quantum Key Distribution." Physical Review Letters 107.11 (2011).

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