arXiv subjects

Shi-Hai Sun

Publications and source records attributed to Shi-Hai Sun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Free-Running Long-Distance Reference-Frame-Independent Quantum Key Distribution

Rapidly and randomly drifted reference frames will shorten the link distance and decrease the secure key rate of realistic quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. However, an actively or inappropriately implemented calibration scheme will increase complexity of the systems and may open security loopholes. In this article, we present a free-running reference-frame-independent (RFI) QKD scheme, where measurement events are classified into multiple slices with the same misalignment variation of reference frames and each slice performs the post-processing procedure individually. We perform the free-running RFI QKD experiment with a fiber link of 100km and the misalignment of the reference frame between Alice and Bob is varied more than 29 periods in a 50.7-hour experiment test. The average secure key rate is about 734 bps with a total loss of 31.5 dB, which achieves the state-of-art performance of the long-distance RFI QKD implementations. Our free-running RFI scheme can be efficiently adapted into the satellite-to-ground and drone based mobile communication scenarios, as it can be performed with rapidly varying reference frame and a loss more than 40 dB, where no secure key can be obtained by the original RFI scheme.

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arXiv2020

Security evaluation of quantum key distribution with weak basis-choice flaws

Quantum key distribution (QKD) can share an unconditional secure key between two remote parties, but the deviation between theory and practice will break the security of the generated key. In this paper, we evaluate the security of QKD with weak basis-choice flaws, in which the random bits used by Alice and Bob are weakly controlled by Eve. Based on the definition of Li \textit{et al.} [Sci. Rep. 5, 16200 (2015)] and GLLP's analysis, we obtain a tight and analytical bound to estimate the phase error and key rate for both the single photon source and the weak coherent source. Our approach largely increases the key rate from that of the original approach. Finally, we investigate and confirm the security of BB84-QKD with a practical commercial devices.

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arXiv2020

Hacking single-photon avalanche detector in quantum key distribution via pulse illumination

Quantum key distribution (QKD) has been proved to be information-theoretically secure in theory. Unfortunately, the imperfect devices in practice compromise its security. Thus, to improve the security property of practical QKD systems, a commonly used method is to patch the loopholes in the existing QKD systems. However, in this work, we show an adversary's capability of exploiting the imperfection of the patch itself to bypass the patch. Specifically, we experimentally demonstrate that, in the detector under test, the patch of photocurrent monitor against the detector blinding attack can be defeated by the pulse illumination attack proposed in this paper. We also analyze the secret key rate under the pulse illumination attack, which theoretically confirmed that Eve can conduct the attack to learn the secret key. This work indicates the importance of inspecting the security loopholes in a detection unit to further understand their impacts on a QKD system. The method of pulse illumination attack can be a general testing item in the security evaluation standard of QKD.

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arXiv2019

Laser seeding attack in quantum key distribution

Quantum key distribution (QKD) based on the laws of quantum physics allows the secure distribution of secret keys over an insecure channel. Unfortunately, imperfect implementations of QKD compromise its information-theoretical security. Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is a promising approach to remove all side channels from the measurement unit, which is regarded as the "Achilles' heel" of QKD. An essential assumption in MDI-QKD is however that the sources are trusted. Here we experimentally demonstrate that a practical source based on a semiconductor laser diode is vulnerable to a laser seeding attack, in which light injected from the communication line into the laser results in an increase of the intensities of the prepared states. The unnoticed increase of intensity may compromise the security of QKD, as we show theoretically for the prepare-and-measure decoy-state BB84 and MDI-QKD protocols. Our theoretical security analysis is general and can be applied to any vulnerability that increases the intensity of the emitted pulses. Moreover, a laser seeding attack might be launched as well against decoy-state based quantum cryptographic protocols beyond QKD.

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arXiv2018

Decoy state quantum key distribution with imperfect source

The decoy state protocol has been considered to be one of the most important methods to protect the security of quantum key distribution (QKD) with a weak coherent source. Here we test two experimental approaches to generating the decoy states with different intensities: modulation of the pump current of a semiconductor laser diode, and external modulation by an optical intensity modulator. The former approach shows a side-channel in the time domain that allows an attacker to distinguish s signal state from a decoy state, breaking a basic assumption in the protocol. We model a photon-number-splitting attack based on our experimental data, and show that it compromises the system's security. Then, based on the work of K. Tamaki et al. [New J. Phys. 18, 065008 (2016)], we obtain two analytical formulas to estimate the yield and the error rate of single-photon pulses when the signal and decoy states are distinguishable. The distinguishability reduces the secure key rate below that of a perfect decoy-state protocol. To mitigate this reduction, we propose to calibrate the transmittance of the receiver (Bob's) unit. We apply our method to three QKD systems and estimate their secure key rates.

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arXiv2017

Experimental study of quantum random number generator based on two independent lasers

Quantum random number generator (QRNG) can produce true randomness by utilizing the inherent probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. Recently, the spontaneous-emission quantum phase noise of the laser has been widely deployed for QRNG, due to its high rate, low cost and the feasibility of chip-scale integration. Here, we perform a comprehensive experimental study of phase-noise based QRNG with two independent lasers, each of which operates in either continuous-wave (CW) or pulsed mode. We implement QRNGs by operating the two lasers in three configurations, namely CW+CW, CW+pulsed and pulsed+pulsed, and demonstrate their tradeoffs, strengths and weaknesses.

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arXiv2016

Experimental Demonstration of Passive-Decoy-State Quantum-Key-Distribution with Two Independent Lasers

Decoy state method could effectively enhance the performance of quantum key distribution (QKD) with practical phase randomized weak coherent source. Although active modulation of the source intensity is effective and has been implemented in many experiments, passive preparation of decoy states is also an important addition to the family of decoy state QKD protocols. In this paper, following the theory of Curty \emph{et al.} [PRA, 81, 022310 (2010)], we experimentally demonstrate the phase-encoding passive-decoy-state QKD with only linear optical setups and threshold single photon detectors. In our experiment, two homemade independent pulsed lasers, with visibility of Hong-Ou-Mandel interference $0.53(\pm 0.003)$, have been implemented and used to passively generate the different decoy states. Finally, secret key rate $1.5\times 10^{-5}$/pulse is obtained with 10km commercial fiber between Alice and Bob.

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arXiv2016

Experimental asymmetric Plug-and-Play Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is immune to all security loopholes on detection. Previous experiments on MDI-QKD required spatially separated signal lasers and complicated stabilization systems. In this paper, we perform a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration of plug-and-play MDI-QKD over an asymmetric channel setting with a single signal laser, in which the whole system is automatically stabilized in spectrum, polarization, arrival time and phase reference. Both the signal laser and the single-photon detectors are in the possession of a common server. A passive timing calibration technique is applied to ensure the precise and stable overlap of signal pulses. The results pave the way for the realization of a quantum network, in which the users only need the encoding devices.

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arXiv2015

Effect of source tampering in the security of quantum cryptography

The security of source has become an increasingly important issue in quantum cryptography. Based on the framework of measurement-device-independent quantum-key-distribution (MDI-QKD), the source becomes the only region exploitable by a potential eavesdropper (Eve). Phase randomization is a cornerstone assumption in most discrete-variable (DV-) quantum communication protocols (e.g., QKD, quantum coin tossing, weak coherent state blind quantum computing, and so on), and the violation of such an assumption is thus fatal to the security of those protocols. In this paper, we show a simple quantum hacking strategy, with commercial and homemade pulsed lasers, by Eve that allows her to actively tamper with the source and violate such an assumption, without leaving a trace afterwards. Furthermore, our attack may also be valid for continuous-variable (CV-) QKD, which is another main class of QKD protocol, since, excepting the phase random assumption, other parameters (e.g., intensity) could also be changed, which directly determine the security of CV-QKD.

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arXiv2014

Hacking on decoy-state quantum key distribution system with partial phase randomization

Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides means for unconditional secure key transmission between two distant parties. However, in practical implementations, it suffers from quantum hacking due to device imperfections. Here we propose a hybrid measurement attack, with only linear optics, homodyne detection, and single photon detection, to the widely used vacuum+weak decoy state QKD system when the phase of source is partially randomized. Our analysis shows that, in some parameter regimes, the proposed attack would result in an entanglement breaking channel but still be able to trick the legitimate users to believe they have transmitted secure keys. That is, the eavesdropper is able to steal all the key information without discovered by the users. Thus, our proposal reveals that partial phase randomization is not sufficient to guarantee the security of phase-encoding QKD systems with weak coherent states.

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arXiv2014

Gaussian-modulated coherent-state measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), leaving the detection procedure to the third partner and thus being immune to all detector side-channel attacks, is very promising for the construction of high-security quantum information networks. We propose a scheme to implement MDI-QKD, but with continuous variables instead of discrete ones, i.e., with the source of Gaussian-modulated coherent states, based on the principle of continuous-variable entanglement swapping. This protocol not only can be implemented with current telecom components but also has high key rates compared to its discrete counterpart; thus it will be highly compatible with quantum networks.

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arXiv2014

Enhancement of the security of a practical continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution system by manipulating the intensity of the local oscillator

In a practical continuous-variable quantum-key distribution (CVQKD), the fluctuations of the local oscillator (LO) not only make the normalization of Bob's measurement outcomes difficult, but also can change the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an imperfect balanced homodyne detector (BHD), which may lead the security of a practical system of CVQKD to be compromised severely. In this paper, we propose that the LO intensity can be manipulated by the legitimate parties, i.e., being tuned and stabilized to a required constant value, to eliminate the impact of LO fluctuations and defeat Eve's potential attack on the LO. Moreover, we show that the secret key rate can be increased over a noisy channel, especially the channels of metropolitan QKD networks, by tuning the intensity of LO and thus the SNR of a practical BHD to an optimal value, and we find that, counterintuitively, the requirement on BHD (i.e., high detection efficiency and low electronic noise) can also be reduced in this case. To realize this manipulation, we give a schematic setup which thus can be used to enhance the security of a practical CVQKD system.

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arXiv2014

Wavelength attack on practical continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution system with a heterodyne protocol

We present the wavelength attack on a practical continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution system with a heterodyne protocol, in which the transmittance of beam splitters at Bob's station is wavelength-dependent. Our strategy is proposed independent of but analogous to that of Huang et al. [arXiv: 1206.6550v1 [quant-ph]], but in that paper the shot noise of the two beams that Eve sends to Bob, transmitting after the homodyne detector, is unconsidered. However, shot noise is the main contribution to the deviation of Bob's measurements from Eve's when implementing the wavelength attack, so it must be considered accurately. In this paper, we firstly analyze the solutions of the equations specifically that must be satisfied in this attack, which is not considered rigorously by Huang et al. Then we calculate the shot noise of the homodyne detector accurately and conclude that the wavelength attack can be implemented successfully in some parameter regime.

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arXiv2014

Local oscillator fluctuation opens a loophole for Eve in practical continuous-variable quantum-key-distribution systems

We consider the security of practical continuous-variable quantum key distribution implementation with the local oscillator (LO) fluctuating in time, which opens a loophole for Eve to intercept the secret key. We show that Eve can simulate this fluctuation to hide her Gaussian collective attack by reducing the intensity of the LO. Numerical simulations demonstrate that, if Bob does not monitor the LO intensity and does not scale his measurements with the instantaneous intensity values of LO, the secret key rate will be compromised severely.

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arXiv2013

Practical decoy-state measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is immune to all the detection attacks; thus when it is combined with the decoy-state method, the final key is unconditionally secure, even if a practical weak coherent source is used by Alice and Bob. However, until now, the analysis of decoy-state MDI-QKD with a weak coherent source is incomplete. In this paper, we derive, with only vacuum+weak decoy state, some tight formulas to estimate the lower bound of yield and the upper bound of error rate for the fraction of signals in which both Alice and Bob send a single-photon pulse to the untrusted third party Charlie. The numerical simulations show that our method with only vacuum+weak decoy state can asymptotically approach the theoretical limit of the infinite number of decoy states. Furthermore, the statistical fluctuation due to the finite length of date is also considered based on the standard statistical analysis.

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arXiv2013

Partially random phase attack to the practical two-way quantum-key-distribution system

Phase randomization is a very important assumption in the Bennett-Brassard 1984 quantum key distribution (QKD) system with a weak coherent source. Thus an active phase modulator is needed to randomize the phase of source. However, it is hard to check whether the phase of source is randomized totally or not in practical QKD systems. In this paper a partially random phase attack is proposed to exploit this imperfection. Our analysis shows that Eve can break the security of a two-way QKD system by using our attack, even if an active phase randomization is adopted by Alice. Furthermore, the numerical simulation shows that in some parameter regimes, our attack is immune to the one-decoy-state method.

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arXiv2013

Single-photon-detection attack on the phase-coding continuous-variable quantum cryptography

The phase-coding quantum cryptographic scheme using the homodyne detection and weak coherent state [Hirano et al.,Phys. Rev. A 68, 042331 (2003)] provides the simplest continuous-variable quantum key distribution scheme from the experimental side. However, the inherent loss of the practical system will not only increase the bit error rate (BER) but also affect the security of the final key. In this paper, we propose a single-photon-detection attack, and then the security of the final key will be compromised in some parameter regimes. Our results show that the BER induced by Eve can be lower than the inherent BER induced by the loss of the system in some parameter regimes. Furthermore, our attack gives the maximal communication distance of this scheme for given experimental parameters.

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arXiv2012

Passive faraday mirror attack in practical two-way quantum key distribution system

The faraday mirror (FM) plays a very important role in maintaining the stability of two way plug-and-play quantum key distribution (QKD) system. However, the practical FM is imperfect, which will not only introduce additional quantum bit error rate (QBER) but also leave a loophole for Eve to spy the secret key. In this paper, we propose a passive faraday mirror attack in two way QKD system based on the imperfection of FM. Our analysis shows that, if the FM is imperfect, the dimension of Hilbert space spanned by the four states sent by Alice is three instead of two. Thus Eve can distinguish these states with a set of POVM operators belonging to three dimension space, which will reduce the QBER induced by her attack. Furthermore, a relationship between the degree of the imperfection of FM and the transmittance of the practical QKD system is obtained. The results show that, the probability that Eve loads her attack successfully depends on the degree of the imperfection of FM rapidly, but the QBER induced by Eve's attack changes with the degree of the imperfection of FM slightly.

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