Practical long-distance quantum key distribution system using decoy levels

Rosenberg, D. et al. (2009) Practical long-distance quantum key distribution system using decoy levels. New Journal of Physics, 11(4), 045009. (doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/4/045009)

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) has the potential for widespread real-world applications, but no secure long-distance experiment has demonstrated the truly practical operation needed to move QKD from the laboratory to the real world due largely to limitations in synchronization and poor detector performance. Here, we report results obtained using a fully automated, robust QKD system based on the Bennett Brassard 1984 (BB84) protocol with low-noise superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) and decoy levels to produce a secret key with unconditional security over a record 140.6 km of optical fibre, an increase of more than a factor of five compared with the previous record for unconditionally secure key generation in a practical QKD system.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hadfield, Professor Robert
• Authors: Rosenberg, D., Peterson, C.G., Harrington, J.W., Rice, P.R., Dallmann, N., Tyagi, K.T., McCabe, K.P., Nam, S., Baek, B., Hadfield, R.H., Hughes, R.J., and Nordholt, J.E.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: New Journal of Physics
• Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
• ISSN: 1367-2630
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
• First Published: First published in New Journal of Physics 11(4):045009
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License