arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Hossein Mani.
We report the first continuous-variable quantum key distribution experiment that enables the generation of secure key over a 60 km fiber channel with locally generated local oscillator. This is achieved by controlling the excess noise using machine learning for phase noise compensation while operating the system at a low modulation variance
Distributing cryptographic keys over public channels in a way that can provide information-theoretic security is the holy grail for secure communication. This can be achieved by exploiting quantum mechanical principles in so-called quantum key distribution (QKD). Continuous-variable (CV) QKD based on coherent states, in particular, is an attractive scheme for secure communication since it requires only standard telecommunication technology that can operate at room temperature. However, a recently discovered side-channel created in the process of state preparation leads to a leakage of information about the transmitted quantum state, opening a security loophole for eavesdroppers to compromise the security of the CVQKD system. Here, we present a CVQKD system without this modulation leakage vulnerability. Our implementation is based on a baseband modulation approach, and uses an in-phase and quadrature (IQ) modulator for state preparation and radio frequency heterodyne detection together with carefully designed digital signal processing for state measurement. We consider practical aspects in the implementation and demonstrate the generation of a composable secret key secure against collective attacks. This work is a step towards protecting CVQKD systems against practical imperfections of physical devices and operational limitations without performance degradation.
A quantum key distribution (QKD) system must fulfill the requirement of universal composability to ensure that any cryptographic application (using the QKD system) is also secure. Furthermore, the theoretical proof responsible for security analysis and key generation should cater to the number $N$ of the distributed quantum states being finite in practice. Continuous-variable (CV) QKD based on coherent states, despite being a suitable candidate for integration in the telecom infrastructure, has so far been unable to demonstrate composability as existing proofs require a rather large $N$ for successful key generation. Here we report the first Gaussian-modulated coherent state CVQKD system that is able to overcome these challenges and can generate composable keys secure against collective attacks with $N \lesssim 3.5\times10^8$ coherent states. With this advance, possible due to novel improvements to the security proof and a fast, yet low-noise and highly stable system operation, CVQKD implementations take a significant step towards their discrete-variable counterparts in practicality, performance, and security.
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution utilizes an ensemble of coherent states of light to distribute secret encryption keys between two parties. One of the challenges is thereby the requirement of capacity approaching error correcting codes in the low signal-to-noise (SNR) regime (SNR < 0 dB). Multilevel coding (MLC) combined with multistage decoding (MSD) can solve this challenge in combination with multi-edge-type low-density parity-check (MET-LDPC) codes which are ideal for low code rates in the low SNR regime due to degree-one variable nodes. However, the complexity of designing such highly efficient codes remains an open issue. Here, we introduce the concept of generalized extrinsic information transfer (G-EXIT) charts for MET-LDPC codes and demonstrate how this tool can be used to analyze their convergence behavior. We calculate the capacity for each level in the MLC-MSD scheme and use G-EXIT charts to exemplary find codes for some given rates which provide a better decoding threshold compared to previously reported codes. In comparison to the traditional density evolution method, G-EXIT charts offer a simple and fast asymptotic analysis tool for MET-LDPC codes.
This paper proposes the Symbolic-Stochastic Chase Decoding Algorithm (S-SCA) for the Reed-Solomon (RS) and BCH codes. By efficient usage of void space between constellation points for $q$-ary modulations and using soft information at the input of the decoder, the S-SCA is capable of outperforming conventional Symbolic-Chase algorithm (S-CA) with less computational cost. Since the S-SCA starts with the randomized generation of likely test-vectors, it reduces the complexity to polynomial order and also it does not need to find the least reliable symbols to generate test-vectors. Our simulation results show that by increasing the number of test-vectors, the performance of the algorithm can approach the ML bound. The S-SCA($1K$) provides near $2$ dB gain in comparison with S-CA($1K$) for $(31, 25)$ RS code using $32$-QAM. Furthermore, the algorithm provides near $3$ dB further gain with $1K$ iteration compared with S-CA($65K$) when $(255, 239)$ RS code is used in an AWGN channel. For the Rayleigh fading channel and the same code, the algorithm provides more that $5$ dB gain. Also for $(63, 57)$ BCH codes and $8$-PSK modulation the proposed algorithm provides $3$dB gain with less complexity. This decoder is Soft-Input Soft-Output (SISO) decoder and is highly attractive in low power applications. Finally, the Symbolic-Search Bitwise-Transmission Stochastic Chase Algorithm (SSBT-SCA) was introduced for RS codes over BPSK transmission that is capable of generating symbolic test-vectors that reduce complexity and mitigate burst errors.