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arXiv · 2209.06468

Automated design of quantum optical experiments for device-independent quantum key distribution

Xavier Valcarce·Pavel Sekatski·Elie Gouzien·Alexey Melnikov·Nicolas Sangouard
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Abstract

Device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) reduces the vulnerability to side-channel attacks of standard QKD protocols by removing the need for characterized quantum devices. The higher security guarantees come however, at the price of a challenging implementation. Here, we tackle the question of the conception of an experiment for implementing DIQKD with photonic devices. We introduce a technique combining reinforcement learning, optimisation algorithm and a custom efficient simulation of quantum optics experiments to automate the design of photonic setups maximizing a given function of the measurement statistics. Applying the algorithm to DIQKD, we get unexpected experimental configurations leading to high key rates and to a high resistance to loss and noise. These configurations might be helpful to facilitate a first implementation of DIQKD with photonic devices and for future developments targeting improved performances.

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Xavier Valcarce, Pavel Sekatski, Elie Gouzien, Alexey Melnikov, Nicolas Sangouard. 2022-09-14. Automated design of quantum optical experiments for device-independent quantum key distribution. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.107.062607

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