arXiv subjects

Djeylan Aktas

Publications and source records attributed to Djeylan Aktas.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exact Resource Laws for Passive Wavelength Routing in Entanglement Networks

Entanglement-based networks provide a scalable framework for multiuser quantum communication by passively routing spectrally correlated photon pairs across interconnected nodes. Several wavelength-allocation schemes have been demonstrated experimentally, but these designs do not yet give a general way to determine how spectral use, receiver load, repeated connections, and fan-out constrain one another. We address this problem through the network's connectivity graph, where the wavelength assignment becomes a resource-optimization problem. For one-sided fan-out, assigning each link to a center and grouping links with the same center gives an exact optimization for arbitrary networks and fan-out limits. We solve this for complete networks and for complete networks in which every user has one excluded partner. Allowing both conjugate wavelengths to fan out changes the resource landscape: a balanced binary hierarchy attains the minimum spectral-layer count for a complete network while reducing the maximum receiver load to logarithmic in the number of users. An eight-user complete network then makes explicit the competing roles of spectral efficiency, receiver load, redundancy, and fan-out. We include the passive-splitter loss and the dependence of the key rate on the delivered pair flux to determine the minimum total pair-generation rate required to meet the prescribed targets. Finally, we formulate the corresponding BBM92 quantum key distribution (QKD) secret-key-rate analysis for a continuous-wave-pumped broadband source, with true and accidental coincidences evaluated between detector channels at the two endpoint users and relative layer pair-generation rates fixed by the source spectrum. This framework, therefore, provides a direct route from exact network resource laws to the design and comparison of passive entanglement architectures under experimentally specified hardware constraints.

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arXiv2026

Dynamic Entanglement Distribution for Multi-User and Multi-Protocol Quantum Networking

Dynamic entanglement distribution is a key requirement for scalable, multi-user and multi-protocol quantum networks. We demonstrate a metropolitan-scale entanglement-based quantum communication network enabled by a quantum reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (q-ROADM), which dynamically distributes polarisation-entangled photon pairs from a broadband source to six users over deployed campus and metropolitan fibre. The network supports programmable full-mesh, partial-mesh and sliced sub-network configurations, enabling flexible allocation of entanglement resources according to link condition and service requirement. We demonstrate stable six-user full-mesh operation over more than 150 hours, compare full-mesh and time-shared partial-mesh strategies under different source and detector conditions, and realise quantum network slicing with optional/additional interconnection links. We also show that the same infrastructure can support different quantum protocols by showcasing Secure Inaugural Authentication-Transfer (SIAT) combined with Network flooding over multiple paths to improve the security of onboarding a new user. These results demonstrate a q-ROADM-enabled entanglement distribution architecture as a novel route towards reconfigurable, service-oriented quantum networking over optical fibre infrastructure.

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arXiv2024

Physical Security of Chip-Based Quantum Key Distribution Devices

The security proofs of the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols make certain assumptions about the operations of physical systems. Thus, appropriate modelling of devices to ensure that their operations are consistent with the models assumed in the security proof is imperative. In this paper, we explore the Trojan horse attack (THA) using Measurement Device Independent (MDI) QKD integrated photonic chips and how to avoid some of the security vulnerabilities using only on-chip components. We show that a monitor photodiode paired appropriately with enough optical isolation, given the sensitivity of the photodiode, can detect high power sniffing attacks. We also show that the placement of amplitude modulators with respect to back reflecting components and their switching time can be used to thwart a THA.

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arXiv2023

Scalable authentication and optimal flooding in a quantum network

The global interest in quantum networks stems from the security guaranteed by the laws of physics. Deploying quantum networks means facing the challenges of scaling up the physical hardware and, more importantly, of scaling up all other network layers and optimally utilising network resources. Here we consider two related protocols, their experimental demonstrations on an 8-user quantum network test-bed, and discuss their usefulness with the aid of example use cases. First, an authentication transfer protocol to manage a fundamental limitation of quantum communication -- the need for a pre-shared key between every pair of users linked together on the quantum network. By temporarily trusting some intermediary nodes for a short period of time (<35 min in our network), we can generate and distribute these initial authentication keys with a very high level of security. Second, when end users quantify their trust in intermediary nodes, our flooding protocol can be used to improve both end-to-end communication speeds and increase security against malicious nodes.

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arXiv2023

Entanglement distribution quantum networking within deployed telecommunications fibre-optic infrastructure

Quantum networks have been shown to connect users with full-mesh topologies without trusted nodes. We present advancements on our scalable polarisation entanglement-based quantum network testbed, which has the ability to perform protocols beyond simple quantum key distribution. Our approach utilises wavelength multiplexing, which is ideal for quantum networks across local metropolitan areas due to the ease of connecting additional users to the network without increasing the resource requirements per user. We show a 10 user fully connected quantum network with metropolitan scale deployed fibre links, demonstrating polarisation stability and the ability to generate secret keys over a period of 10.8 days with a network wide average-effective secret key rate of 3.38 bps.

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arXiv2022

Unconditionally secure digital signatures implemented in an 8-user quantum network

The ability to know and verifiably demonstrate the origins of messages can often be as important as encrypting the message itself. Here we present an experimental demonstration of an unconditionally secure digital signature (USS) protocol implemented for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, on a fully connected quantum network without trusted nodes. Our USS protocol is secure against forging, repudiation and messages are transferrable. We show the feasibility of unconditionally secure signatures using only bi-partite entangled states distributed throughout the network and experimentally evaluate the performance of the protocol in real world scenarios with varying message lengths.

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arXiv2021

Quantum-limited determination of refractive index difference by means of entanglement

Shaping single-mode operation in high-power fibres requires a precise knowledge of the gain-medium optical properties. This requires accurate measurements of the refractive index differences ($Δ$n) between the core and the cladding of the fiber. We exploit a quantum optical method based on low-coherence Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry to perform practical measurements of the refractive index difference using broadband energy-time entangled photons. The precision enhancement reached with this method is benchmarked with a classical method based on single photon interferometry. We show in classical regime an improvement by an order of magnitude of the precision compared to already reported classical methods. Strikingly, in the quantum regime, we demonstrate an extra factor of 4 on the accuracy enhancement, exhibiting a state-of-the-art $Δ$n precision of $6.10^{-7}$. This work sets the quantum photonics metrology as a powerful characterization tool that should enable a faster and reliable design of materials dedicated to light amplification.

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arXiv2020

Experimental implementation of secure anonymous protocols on an eight-user quantum network

Anonymity in networked communication is vital for many privacy-preserving tasks. Secure key distribution alone is insufficient for high-security communications, often knowing who transmits a message to whom and when must also be kept hidden from an adversary. Here we experimentally demonstrate 5 information-theoretically secure anonymity protocols on an 8 user city-wide quantum network using polarisation-entangled photon pairs. At the heart of these protocols is anonymous broadcasting, which is a cryptographic primitive that allows one user to reveal one bit of information while keeping her identity anonymous. For a network of $n$ users, the protocols retain anonymity for the sender, given less than $n-2$ users are dishonest. This is one of the earliest implementations of genuine multi-user cryptographic protocols beyond standard QKD. Our anonymous protocols enhance the functionality of any fully-connected Quantum Key Distribution network without trusted nodes.

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arXiv2020

A trusted-node-free eight-user metropolitan quantum communication network

Quantum communication is rapidly gaining popularity due to its high security and technological maturity. However, most implementations are limited to just two communicating parties (users). Quantum communication networks aim to connect a multitude of users. Here we present a fully connected quantum communication network on a city wide scale without active switching or trusted nodes. We demonstrate simultaneous and secure connections between all 28 pairings of 8 users. Our novel network topology is easily scalable to many users, allows traffic management features and minimises the infrastructure as well as the user hardware needed.

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arXiv2019

Quantum optical frequency up-conversion for polarisation entangled qubits: towards interconnected quantum information devices

Realising a global quantum network requires combining individual strengths of different quantum systems to perform universal tasks, notably using flying and stationary qubits. However, transferring coherently quantum information between different systems is challenging as they usually feature different properties, notably in terms of operation wavelength and wavepacket. To circumvent this problem for quantum photonics systems, we demonstrate a polarisation-preserving quantum frequency conversion device in which telecom wavelength photons are converted to the near infrared, at which a variety of quantum memories operate. Our device is essentially free of noise which we demonstrate through near perfect single photon state transfer tomography and observation of high-fidelity entanglement after conversion. In addition, our guided-wave setup is robust, compact, and easily adaptable to other wavelengths. This approach therefore represents a major building block towards advantageously connecting quantum information systems based on light and matter.

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arXiv2017

Quantum enhancement of accuracy and precision in optical interferometry

White-light interferometry is one of today's most precise tools for determining optical material properties. Achievable precision and accuracy are typically limited by systematic errors due to a high number of interdependent data fitting parameters. Here, we introduce spectrally-resolved quantum white-light interferometry as a novel tool for optical property measurements, notably chromatic dispersion in optical fibres. By exploiting both spectral and photon-number correlations of energy-time entangled photon pairs, the number of fitting parameters is significantly reduced which eliminates systematic errors and leads to an absolute determination of the material parameter. By comparing the quantum method to state-of-the-art approaches, we demonstrate the quantum advantage through 2.4 times better measurement precision, despite involving 62 times less photons. The improved results are due to conceptual advantages enabled by quantum optics which are likely to define new standards in experimental methods for characterising optical materials.

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arXiv2017

High-quality photonic entanglement for wavelength-multiplexed quantum communication based on a silicon chip

We report an efficient energy-time entangled photon-pair source based on four-wave mixing in a CMOS-compatible silicon photonics ring resonator. Thanks to suitable optimization, the source shows a large spectral brightness of 400\,pairs of entangled photons /s/MHz for $\rm 500\,μW$ pump power. Additionally, the resonator has been engineered so as to generate a frequency comb structure compatible with standard telecom dense wavelength division multiplexers. We demonstrate high-purity energy-time entanglement, i.e., free of photonic noise, with near perfect raw visibilities ($>$~98\%) between various channel pairs in the telecom C-band. Such a compact source stands as a path towards more complex quantum photonic circuits dedicated to quantum communication systems.

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arXiv2016

Optimal analysis of ultra broadband energy-time entanglement for high bit-rate dense wavelength division multiplexed quantum networks

We demonstrate an experimental method for measuring energy-time entanglement over almost 80 nm spectral bandwidth in a single shot with a quantum bit error rate below 0.5%. Our scheme is extremely cost-effective and efficient in terms of resources as it employs only one source of entangled photons and one fixed unbalanced interferometer per phase-coded analysis basis. We show that the maximum analysis spectral bandwidth is obtained when the analysis interferometers are properly unbalanced, a strategy which can be straightforwardly applied to most of today's experiments based on energy-time and time-bin entanglement. Our scheme has therefore a great potential for boosting bit rates and reducing the resource overhead of future entanglement-based quantum key distribution systems.

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arXiv2016

Entanglement distribution over 150 km in wavelength division multiplexed channels for quantum cryptography

Granting information privacy is of crucial importance in our society, notably in fiber communication networks. Quantum cryptography provides a unique means to establish, at remote locations, identical strings of genuine random bits, with a level of secrecy unattainable using classical resources. However, several constraints, such as non-optimized photon number statistics and resources, detectors' noise, and optical losses, currently limit the performances in terms of both achievable secret key rates and distances. Here, these issues are addressed using an approach that combines both fundamental and off-the-shelves technological resources. High-quality bipartite photonic entanglement is distributed over a 150 km fiber link, exploiting a wavelength demultiplexing strategy implemented at the end-user locations. It is shown how coincidence rates scale linearly with the number of employed telecommunication channels, with values outperforming previous realizations by almost one order of magnitude. Thanks to its potential of scalability and compliance with device-independent strategies, this system is ready for real quantum applications, notably entanglement-based quantum cryptography.

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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

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

Towards continuous-wave regime teleportation for light matter quantum relay stations

We report a teleportation experiment involving narrowband entangled photons at 1560 nm and qubit photons at 795 nm emulated by faint laser pulses. A nonlinear difference frequency generation stage converts the 795 nm photons to 1560 nm in order to enable interference with one photon out of the pairs, i.e., at the same wavelength. The spectral bandwidth of all involved photons is of about 25 MHz, which is close to the emission bandwidth of emissive quantum memory devices, notably those based on ensembles of cold atoms and rare earth ions. This opens the route towards the realization of hybrid quantum nodes, i.e., combining quantum memories and entanglement-based quantum relays exploiting either a synchronized (pulsed) or asynchronous (continuous- wave) scenario.

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