arXiv subjects

Nicolas Brunner

Publications and source records attributed to Nicolas Brunner.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Device-independent quantum key distribution secure against collective attacks

Device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) represents a relaxation of the security assumptions made in usual quantum key distribution (QKD). As in usual QKD, the security of DIQKD follows from the laws of quantum physics, but contrary to usual QKD, it does not rely on any assumptions about the internal working of the quantum devices used in the protocol. We present here in detail the security proof for a DIQKD protocol introduced in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 230501 (2008)]. This proof exploits the full structure of quantum theory (as opposed to other proofs that exploit the no-signalling principle only), but only holds again collective attacks, where the eavesdropper is assumed to act on the quantum systems of the honest parties independently and identically at each round of the protocol (although she can act coherently on her systems at any time). The security of any DIQKD protocol necessarily relies on the violation of a Bell inequality. We discuss the issue of loopholes in Bell experiments in this context.

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arXiv2009

Quantum experiments with human eyes as detectors based on cloning via stimulated emission

We show theoretically that the multi-photon states obtained by cloning single-photon qubits via stimulated emission can be distinguished with the naked human eye with high efficiency and fidelity. Focusing on the "micro-macro" situation realized in a recent experiment [F. De Martini, F. Sciarrino, and C. Vitelli, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 253601 (2008)], where one photon from an original entangled pair is detected directly, whereas the other one is greatly amplified, we show that performing a Bell experiment with human-eye detectors for the amplified photon appears realistic, even when losses are taken into account. The great robustness of these results under photon loss leads to an apparent paradox, which we resolve by noting that the Bell violation proves the existence of entanglement before the amplification process. However, we also prove that there is genuine micro-macro entanglement even for high loss.

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arXiv2009

Emergence of Quantum Correlations from Non-Locality Swapping

By studying generalized non-signalling theories, the hope is to find out what makes quantum mechanics so special. In the present paper, we revisit the paradigmatic model of non-signalling boxes and introduce the concept of a genuine box. This will allow us to present the first generalized non-signalling model featuring quantum-like dynamics. In particular, we present the coupler, a device enabling non-locality swapping, the analogue of quantum entanglement swapping, as well as teleportation. Remarkably, part of the boundary between quantum and post-quantum correlations emerges in our study.

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arXiv2008

Simulation of partial entanglement with nonsignaling resources

With the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of quantum non-locality, we decompose quantum correlations into more elementary non-local correlations. We show that the correlations of all pure entangled states of two qubits can be simulated without communication, hence using only non-signaling resources. Our simulation model works in two steps. First, we decompose the quantum correlations into a local and a non-local part. Second, we present a model for simulating the nonlocal part using only non-signaling resources. In our model partially entangled states require more nonlocal resources than maximally entangled states, but the less the state is entangled, the less frequently must the nonlocal resources be used.

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arXiv2008

Can one see entanglement ?

The human eye can detect optical signals containing only a few photons. We investigate the possibility to demonstrate entanglement with such biological detectors. While one person could not detect entanglement by simply observing photons, we discuss the possibility for several observers to demonstrate entanglement in a Bell-type experiment, in which standard detectors are replaced by human eyes. Using a toy model for biological detectors that captures their main characteristic, namely a detection threshold, we show that Bell inequalities can be violated, thus demonstrating entanglement. Remarkably, when the response function of the detector is close to a step function, quantum non-locality can be demonstrated without any further assumptions. For smoother response functions, as for the human eye, post-selection is required.

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arXiv2008

Testing a Bell inequality in multi-pair scenarios

To date, most efforts to demonstrate quantum nonlocality have concentrated on systems of two (or very few) particles. It is however difficult in many experiments to address individual particles, making it hard to highlight the presence of nonlocality. We show how a natural setup with no access to individual particles allows one to violate the CHSH inequality with many pairs, including in our analysis effects of noise and losses. We discuss the case of distinguishable and indistinguishable particles. Finally, a comparison of these two situations provides new insight into the complex relation between entanglement and nonlocality.

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arXiv2008

Testing the Hilbert space dimension

Given a set of correlations originating from measurements on a quantum state of unknown Hilbert space dimension, what is the minimal dimension d necessary to describes such correlations? We introduce the concept of dimension witness to put lower bounds on d. This work represents a first step in a broader research program aiming to characterize Hilbert space dimension in various contexts related to fundamental questions and Quantum Information applications.

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arXiv2008

Partial list of bipartite Bell inequalities with four binary settings

We give a partial list of 26 tight Bell inequalities for the case where Alice and Bob choose among four two-outcome measurements. All tight Bell inequalities with less settings are reviewed as well. For each inequality we compute numerically the maximal quantum violation, the resistance to noise and the minimal detection efficiency required for closing the detection loophole. Surprisingly, most of these inequalities are outperformed by the CHSH inequality.

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arXiv2007

Device-independent security of quantum cryptography against collective attacks

We present the optimal collective attack on a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol in the "device-independent" security scenario, where no assumptions are made about the way the QKD devices work or on what quantum system they operate. Our main result is a tight bound on the Holevo information between one of the authorized parties and the eavesdropper, as a function of the amount of violation of a Bell-type inequality.

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arXiv2007

Detection loophole in asymmetric Bell experiments

The problem of closing the detection loophole with asymmetric systems, such as entangled atom-photon pairs, is addressed. We show that, for the Bell inequality I_3322, a minimal detection efficiency of 43% can be tolerated for one of the particles, if the other one is always detected. We also study the influence of noise and discuss the prospects of experimental implementation.

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arXiv2006

Entanglement and non-locality are different resources

Bell's theorem states that, to simulate the correlations created by measurement on pure entangled quantum states, shared randomness is not enough: some "non-local" resources are required. It has been demonstrated recently that all projective measurements on the maximally entangled state of two qubits can be simulated with a single use of a "non-local machine". We prove that a strictly larger amount of this non-local resource is required for the simulation of pure non-maximally entangled states of two qubits $\ket{ψ(α)}= \cosα\ket{00}+\sinα\ket{11}$ with $0<α\lesssim\fracπ{7.8}$.

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arXiv2006

Secrecy extraction from no-signalling correlations

Quantum cryptography shows that one can guarantee the secrecy of correlation on the sole basis of the laws of physics, that is without limiting the computational power of the eavesdropper. The usual security proofs suppose that the authorized partners, Alice and Bob, have a perfect knowledge and control of their quantum systems and devices; for instance, they must be sure that the logical bits have been encoded in true qubits, and not in higher-dimensional systems. In this paper, we present an approach that circumvents this strong assumption. We define protocols, both for the case of bits and for generic $d$-dimensional outcomes, in which the security is guaranteed by the very structure of the Alice-Bob correlations, under the no-signalling condition. The idea is that, if the correlations cannot be produced by shared randomness, then Eve has poor knowledge of Alice's and Bob's symbols. The present study assumes, on the one hand that the eavesdropper Eve performs only individual attacks (this is a limitation to be removed in further work), on the other hand that Eve can distribute any correlation compatible with the no-signalling condition (in this sense her power is greater than what quantum physics allows). Under these assumptions, we prove that the protocols defined here allow extracting secrecy from noisy correlations, when these correlations violate a Bell-type inequality by a sufficiently large amount. The region, in which secrecy extraction is possible, extends within the region of correlations achievable by measurements on entangled quantum states.

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arXiv2006

Bell-type inequalities for non-local resources

We present bipartite Bell-type inequalities which allow the two partners to use some non-local resource. Such inequality can only be violated if the parties use a resource which is more non-local than the one permitted by the inequality. We introduce a family of N-inputs non-local machines, which are generalizations of the well-known PR-box. Then we construct Bell-type inequalities that cannot be violated by strategies that use one these new machines. Finally we discuss implications for the simulation of quantum states.

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arXiv2005

Fast and simple one-way Quantum Key Distribution

We present and demonstrate a new protocol for practical quantum cryptography, tailored for an implementation with weak coherent pulses to obtain a high key generation rate. The key is obtained by a simple time-of-arrival measurement on the data line; the presence of an eavesdropper is checked by an interferometer on an additional monitoring line. The setup is experimentally simple; moreover, it is tolerant to reduced interference visibility and to photon number splitting attacks, thus featuring a high efficiency in terms of distilled secret bit per qubit.

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arXiv2005

Direct measurement of superluminal group velocity and of signal velocity in an optical fiber

We present an easy way of observing superluminal group velocities using a birefringent optical fiber and other standard devices. In the theoretical analysis, we show that the optical properties of the setup can be described using the notion of "weak value". The experiment shows that the group velocity can indeed exceed c in the fiber; and we report the first direct observation of the so-called "signal velocity", the speed at which information propagates and that cannot exceed c.

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arXiv2004

Towards practical and fast Quantum Cryptography

We present a new protocol for practical quantum cryptography, tailored for an implementation with weak coherent pulses. The key is obtained by a very simple time-of-arrival measurement on the data line; an interferometer is built on an additional monitoring line, allowing to monitor the presence of a spy (who would break coherence by her intervention). Against zero-error attacks (the analog of photon-number-splitting attacks), this protocol performs as well as standard protocols with strong reference pulses: the key rate decreases only as the transmission $t$ of the quantum channel. We present also two attacks that introduce errors on the monitoring line: the intercept-resend, and a coherent attack on two subsequent pulses. Finally, we sketch several possible variations of this protocol.

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arXiv2003

Quantum cryptography with and without entanglement

Quantum cryptography is reviewed, first using entanglement both for the intuition and for the experimental realizations. Next, the implementation is simplified in several steps until it becomes practical. At this point entanglement has disappeared. This method can be seen as a lesson of Applied Physics. Finally, security issues, e.g. photon number splitting attacks, and counter-measures are discussed.

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arXiv2003

Optical telecom networks as weak measurements with post-selection

In this work we establish a link between two apparently unrelated subjects: polarization effects in optical fibers and devices, and the quantum theory of weak measurements. We show that the abstract concept of weak measurements followed by post-selection, introduced a decade ago by quantum theorists, naturally appears in the everyday physics of telecom networks.

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