Device Calibration Impacts Security of Quantum Key Distribution
Abstract
Characterizing the physical channel and calibrating the cryptosystem hardware are prerequisites for establishing a quantum channel for quantum key distribution (QKD). Moreover, an inappropriately implemented calibration routine can open a fatal security loophole. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a method to induce a large temporal detector efficiency mismatch in a commercial QKD system by deceiving a channel length calibration routine. We then devise an optimal and realistic strategy using faked states to break the security of the cryptosystem. A fix for this loophole is also suggested.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- September 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.110501
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1103.2327
- Bibcode:
- 2011PhRvL.107k0501J
- Keywords:
-
- 03.67.Dd;
- 03.67.Ac;
- 03.67.Hk;
- 42.50.Ex;
- Quantum cryptography;
- Quantum algorithms protocols and simulations;
- Quantum communication;
- Optical implementations of quantum information processing and transfer;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages + 1 page of supplementary information. Considerable modification of Eve's attack strategy and QBER minimization technique. All figures have also been improved