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Quantum Physics

arXiv:1103.2327 (quant-ph)
[Submitted on 11 Mar 2011 (v1), last revised 16 Sep 2011 (this version, v4)]

Title:Device calibration impacts security of quantum key distribution

Authors:Nitin Jain, Christoffer Wittmann, Lars Lydersen, Carlos Wiechers, Dominique Elser, Christoph Marquardt, Vadim Makarov, Gerd Leuchs
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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.
Comments: 4 pages + 1 page of supplementary information. Considerable modification of Eve's attack strategy and QBER minimization technique. All figures have also been improved
Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
Cite as: arXiv:1103.2327 [quant-ph]
  (or arXiv:1103.2327v4 [quant-ph] for this version)
  https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1103.2327
Journal reference: Physical Review Letters 107, 110501 (2011)
Related DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.110501

Submission history

From: Nitin Jain [view email]
[v1] Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:00:59 UTC (218 KB)
[v2] Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:47:27 UTC (220 KB)
[v3] Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:50:20 UTC (215 KB)
[v4] Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:23:14 UTC (215 KB)
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