Quantum Key Distribution with High Loss: Toward Global Secure Communication

2002/11/30 by W. -Y. Hwang, Won-Young Hwang · 11 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.91.057901

published as Physical Review Letters 91, 057901 (2003) · derivation made more detailed, 4 pages, RevTex

arxiv created 2003/05/19 · openalex publication_date 2003/08/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

We propose a decoy-pulse method to overcome the photon-number-splitting attack for Bennett-Brassard 1984 quantum key distribution protocol in the presence of high loss: A legitimate user intentionally and randomly replaces signal pulses by multiphoton pulses (decoy pulses). Then they check the loss of the decoy pulses. If the loss of the decoy pulses is abnormally less than that of signal pulses, the whole protocol is aborted. Otherwise, to continue the protocol, they estimate the loss of signal multiphoton pulses based on that of decoy pulses. This estimation can be done with an assumption that the two losses have similar values. We justify that assumption.

Citations

• Quantum key distribution with realistic states: photon-number statistics in the photon-number splitting attack
• Conjugate coding

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• Recent developments in quantum key distribution: Theory and practice
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• Relativistic quantum key distribution system with one-way quantum communication