arXiv subjects

Anthony Martin

Publications and source records attributed to Anthony Martin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Security proof for a simplified BB84-like QKD protocol

The security of quantum key distribution (QKD) has been proven for different protocols, in particular for the BB84 protocol. It has been shown that this scheme is robust against eventual imperfections in the state preparation, and sending only three different states delivers the same secret key rate achievable with four states. In this work, we prove, in a finite-key scenario, that the security of this protocol can be maintained even with less measurement operators on the receiver. This allows us to implement a time-bin encoding scheme with a minimum amount of resources.

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arXiv2018

Secure quantum key distribution over 421 km of optical fiber

We present a quantum key distribution system with a 2.5 GHz repetition rate using a three-state time-bin protocol combined with a one-decoy approach. Taking advantage of superconducting single-photon detectors optimized for quantum key distribution and ultra low-loss fiber, we can distribute secret keys at a maximum distance of 421 km and obtain secret key rates of 6.5 bps over 405 km.

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arXiv2018

Finite-key analysis on the 1-decoy state QKD protocol

It has been shown that in the asymptotic case of infinite-key length the 2-decoy state QKD protocol outperforms the 1-decoy state protocol. Here, we present a finite-key analysis of the 1-decoy method. Interestingly, we find that for practical block sizes of up to $10^8$ bits, the 1-decoy protocol achieves for almost all experimental settings higher secret key rates than the 2-decoy protocol. Since using only one decoy is also easier to implement, we conclude that it is the best choice for practical QKD.

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arXiv2018

Simple 2.5 GHz time-bin quantum key distribution

We present a 2.5 GHz quantum key distribution setup with the emphasis on a simple experimental realization. It features a three-state time-bin protocol based on a pulsed diode laser and a single intensity modulator. Implementing an efficient one-decoy scheme and finite-key analysis, we achieve record breaking secret key rates of 1.5 kbps over 200 km of standard optical fiber.

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arXiv2018

Simple and high-speed polarization-based QKD

We present a simplified BB84 protocol with only three quantum states and one decoy-state level. We implement this scheme using the polarization degree of freedom at telecom wavelength. Only one pulsed laser is used in order to reduce possible side-channel attacks. The repetition rate of 625 MHz and the achieved secret bit rate of 23 bps over 200 km of standard fiber are the actual state of the art.

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arXiv2017

MHz-rate semi-device-independent quantum random number generators based on unambiguous state discrimination

An approach to quantum random number generation based on unambiguous quantum state discrimination (USD) is developed. We consider a prepare-and-measure protocol, where two non-orthogonal quantum states can be prepared, and a measurement device aims at unambiguously discriminating between them. Because the states are non-orthogonal, this necessarily leads to a minimal rate of inconclusive events whose occurrence must be genuinely random and which provide the randomness source that we exploit. Our protocol is semi-device-independent in the sense that the output entropy can be lower bounded based on experimental data and few general assumptions about the setup alone. It is also practically relevant, which we demonstrate by realising a simple optical implementation achieving rates of 16.5 Mbits/s. Combining ease of implementation, high rate, and real-time entropy estimation, our protocol represents a promising approach intermediate between fully device-independent protocols and commercial QRNGs.

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arXiv2017

Quantifying photonic high-dimensional entanglement

High-dimensional entanglement offers promising perspectives in quantum information science. In practice, however, the main challenge is to devise efficient methods to characterize high-dimensional entanglement, based on the available experimental data which is usually rather limited. Here we report the characterization and certification of high-dimensional entanglement in photon pairs, encoded in temporal modes. Building upon recently developed theoretical methods, we certify an entanglement of formation of 2.09(7) ebits in a time-bin implementation, and 4.1(1) ebits in an energy-time implementation. These results are based on very limited sets of local measurements, which illustrates the practical relevance of these methods.

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arXiv2016

Experimental weak measurement of two non-commuting observables

The fact that not all quantum observables are jointly measurable is one of the major differences between quantum and classical theory. In the former, non-commuting observables can only be simultaneously measured with limited precision. We report on an experimental implementation of such a simultaneous measurement of two non-commuting observables based on the framework of weak von Neumann measurements. We use a photonic setup where the polarisation degree of freedom acts as the system and the two components of the transversal position correspond to the pointers of the measurement apparatuses. In addition, the theory shows that these weak measurements demonstrate a counter-intuitive non-monotonicity: weaker measurements can potentially reveal more information than stronger ones.

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arXiv2016

Detector-device-independent QKD: security analysis and fast implementation

One of the most pressing issues in quantum key distribution (QKD) is the problem of detector side- channel attacks. To overcome this problem, researchers proposed an elegant "time-reversal" QKD protocol called measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD), which is based on time-reversed entanglement swapping. However, MDI-QKD is more challenging to implement than standard point- to-point QKD. Recently, an intermediary QKD protocol called detector-device-independent QKD (DDI-QKD) has been proposed to overcome the drawbacks of MDI-QKD, with the hope that it would eventually lead to a more efficient detector side-channel-free QKD system. Here, we analyze the security of DDI-QKD and elucidate its security assumptions. We find that DDI-QKD is not equivalent to MDI-QKD, but its security can be demonstrated with reasonable assumptions. On the more practical side, we consider the feasibility of DDI-QKD and present a fast experimental demonstration (clocked at 625 MHz), capable of secret key exchange up to more than 90 km.

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arXiv2016

24-Hour Relativistic Bit Commitment

Bit commitment is a fundamental cryptographic primitive in which a party wishes to commit a secret bit to another party. Perfect security between mistrustful parties is unfortunately impossible to achieve through the asynchronous exchange of classical and quantum messages. Perfect security can nonetheless be achieved if each party splits into two agents exchanging classical information at times and locations satisfying strict relativistic constraints. A relativistic multi-round protocol to achieve this was previously proposed and used to implement a 2~millisecond commitment time. Much longer durations were initially thought to be insecure, but recent theoretical progress showed that this is not so. In this letter, we report on the implementation of a 24-hour bit commitment based on timed high-speed optical communication and fast data processing only, with all agents located within the city of Geneva. This duration is more than six orders of magnitude longer than before, and we argue that it could be extended to one year and allow much more flexibility on the locations of the agents. Our implementation offers a practical and viable solution for use in applications such as digital signatures, secure voting and honesty-preserving auctions.

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arXiv2016

A self-testing quantum random number generator

The generation of random numbers is a task of paramount importance in modern science. A central problem for both classical and quantum randomness generation is to estimate the entropy of the data generated by a given device. Here we present a protocol for self-testing quantum random number generation, in which the user can monitor the entropy in real-time. Based on a few general assumptions, our protocol guarantees continuous generation of high quality randomness, without the need for a detailed characterization of the devices. Using a fully optical setup, we implement our protocol and illustrate its self-testing capacity. Our work thus provides a practical approach to quantum randomness generation in a scenario of trusted but error-prone devices.

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arXiv2015

Perfectly secure steganography: hiding information in the quantum noise of a photograph

We show that the quantum nature of light can be used to hide a secret message within a photograph. Using this physical principle we achieve information-theoretic secure steganography, which had remained elusive until now. The protocol is such that the digital picture in which the secret message is embedded is perfectly undistinguishable from an ordinary photograph. This implies that, on a fundamental level, it is impossible to discriminate a private communication from an exchange of photographs.

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arXiv2015

Integrated AlGaAs source of highly indistinguishable and energy-time entangled photons

The generation of nonclassical states of light in miniature chips is a crucial step towards practical implementations of future quantum technologies. Semiconductor materials are ideal to achieve extremely compact and massively parallel systems and several platforms are currently under development. In this context, spontaneous parametric down conversion in AlGaAs devices combines the advantages of room temperature operation, possibility of electrical injection and emission in the telecom band. Here we report on a chip-based AlGaAs source, producing indistinguishable and energy-time entangled photons with a brightness of $7.2\times10^6$ pairs/s and a signal-to-noise ratio of $141\pm12$. Indistinguishability between the photons is demonstrated via a Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment with a visibility of $89\pm3\%$, while energy-time entanglement is tested via a Franson interferometer leading to a value for the Bell parameter $ S=2.70\pm0.10$.

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arXiv2015

Quantum nonlocality with arbitrary limited detection efficiency

The demonstration and use of nonlocality, as defined by Bell's theorem, rely strongly on dealing with non-detection events due to losses and detector inefficiencies. Otherwise, the so-called detection loophole could be exploited. The only way to avoid this is to have detection efficiencies that are above a certain threshold. We introduce the intermediate assumption of limited detection efficiency, e.g. in each run of the experiment the overall detection efficiency is lower bounded by $η_{min} > 0$. Hence, in an adversarial scenario, the adversaries have arbitrary large but not full control over the inefficiencies. We analyze the set of possible correlations that fulfil Limited Detection Locality (LDL) and show that they necessarily satisfy some linear Bell-like inequalities. We prove that quantum theory predicts violation of one of these inequalities for all $η_{min} > 0$. Hence, nonlocality can be demonstrated with arbitrarily small limited detection efficiencies. Finally we propose a generalized scheme that uses this characterization to deal with detection inefficiencies, which interpolates between the two usual schemes, postselection and outcome assignment.

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arXiv2015

Heralded amplification of photonic qubits

We demonstrate heralded qubit amplification for Time-Bin and Fock-state qubits in an all-fibre, telecom-wavelength, scheme that highlights the simplicity, the stability and potential for fully integrated photonic solutions. Exploiting high-efficiency superconducting detectors, the gain, the fidelity and the performance of the amplifier are studied as a function of loss. We also demonstrate the first heralded Fock-state qubit amplifier without post-selection. This provides a significant advance towards demonstrating Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution as well as fundamental tests of quantum mechanics over extended distances.

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arXiv2015

Demonstration of Quantum Nonlocality in presence of Measurement Dependence

Quantum nonlocality stands as a resource for Device Independent Quantum Information Processing (DIQIP), as, for instance, Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution. We investigate experimentally the assumption of limited Measurement Dependence, i.e., that the measurement settings used in Bell inequality tests or DIQIP are partially influenced by the source of entangled particle and/or by an adversary. Using a recently derived Bell-like inequality [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113 190402] and a 99% fidelity source of partially entangled polarization photonic qubits, we obtain a clear violation of the inequality, excluding a much larger range of measurement dependent local models than would be possible with an adapted Clauser, Horne, Shimony and Holt (CHSH) inequality. It is therefore shown that the Measurement Independence assumption can be widely relaxed while still demonstrating quantum nonlocality.

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arXiv2014

Detector-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution

Recently, a quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme based on entanglement swapping, called measurement-device-independent QKD (mdiQKD), was proposed to bypass all detector side-channel attacks. While mdiQKD is conceptually elegant and offers a supreme level of security, the experimental complexity is challenging for practical systems. For instance, it requires interference between two widely separated independent single-photon sources, and the rates are dependent on detecting two photons - one from each source. Here we experimentally demonstrate a QKD scheme that removes the need for a two-photon system and instead uses the idea of a two-qubit single-photon (TQSP) to significantly simplify the implementation and improve the efficiency of mdiQKD in several aspects.

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arXiv2014

Quantum random number generation on a mobile phone

Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) can significantly improve the security of cryptographic protocols, by ensuring that generated keys cannot be predicted. However, the cost, size, and power requirements of current QRNGs has prevented them from becoming widespread. In the meantime, the quality of the cameras integrated in mobile telephones has improved significantly, so that now they are sensitive to light at the few-photon level. We demonstrate how these can be used to generate random numbers of a quantum origin.

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