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.Comment: 6oages,4figure

Quantum Superposition States of Two Valleys in Graphene

A system in a quantum superposition of distinct states usually exhibits many peculiar behaviors. Here we show that putting quasiparticles of graphene into superpositions of states in the two valleys can complete change the properties of the massless Dirac fermions. Due to the coexistence of both the quantum and relativistic characteristics, the superposition states exhibit many oddball behaviors in their chiral tunneling process. We further demonstrate that a recently observed line defect in graphene could be used to generate such superposition states. A possible experimental device to detect the novel behaviors of the relativistic superposition states in graphene is proposed.Comment: 4 Figure

Robust quantum repeater with atomic ensembles against phase and polarization instability

We propose an alternative scheme for quantum repeater without phase stabilization and polarization calibration of photons transmitted over long-distance channel. We introduce time-bin photonic states and use a new two-photon interference configuration to robustly generate entanglement between distant atomic-ensemble-based memory qubits. Our scheme can be performed with current experimental setups through making some simple adjustments.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Topology-dependent quantum dynamics and entanglement-dependent topological pumping in superconducting qubit chains

We propose a protocol using a tunable Xmon qubit chain to construct generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) models that support various topological phases. We study the time evolution of a single-excitation quantum state in a SSH-type qubit chain and find that such dynamics is linked to topological winding number. We also investigate the adiabatic transfer of a single-excitation quantum state in a generalized SSH-type qubit chain and show that this process can be connected with topological Chern number and be used to generate a novel entanglement-dependent topological pumping. All results have been demonstrated to be robust against qubit coupling imperfections and can be observed in a short Xmon qubit chain. Our study provides a simple method to directly measure topological invariants rooted in momentum space using quantum dynamics in real space.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1711.0775

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.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Robust quantum state transfer via topological edge states in superconducting qubit chains

Robust quantum state transfer (QST) is an indispensable ingredient in scalable quantum information processing. Here we present an experimentally feasible mechanism for realizing robust QST via topologically protected edge states in superconducting qubit chains. Using superconducting Xmon qubits with tunable couplings, we construct generalized Su-Schrieffer-Heeger models and analytically derive the wave functions of topological edge states. We find that such edge states can be employed as a quantum channel to realize robust QST between remote qubits. With a numerical simulation, we show that both single-qubit states and two-qubit entangled states can be robustly transferred in the presence of sizable imperfections in the qubit couplings. The transfer fidelity demonstrates a wide plateau at the value of unity in the imperfection magnitude. This approach is general and can be implemented in a variety of quantum computing platforms.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

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.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

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.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Impossibility Criterion for Obtaining Pure Entangled States From Mixed States By Purifying Protocols

Purifying noisy entanglement is a protocol which can increase the entanglement of a mixed state (as a source)at expense of the entanglement of others(as an ancilla)by collective measurement. A protocol with which one can get a pure entangled state from a mixed state is defined as purifying mixed states. We address a basic question: can one get a pure entangled state from a mixed state? We give a necessary and sufficient condition of purifying a mixed state by fit local operations and classical communication and show that for a class of source states and ancilla states in arbitrary bipartite systems purifying mixed states is impossible by finite rounds of purifying protocols. For $2\otimes 2$ systems, it is proved that arbitrary states cannot be purified by individual measurement. The possible application and meaning of the conclusion are discussed.Comment: 5 pages,to be published in PR

Analysis of s-wave, p-wave and d-wave holographic superconductors in Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity

In this work, the s-wave, p-wave and d-wave holographic superconductors in the Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity are investigated in the probe limit. For the present approach, it is shown that the equations of motion for different wave states in Einstein gravity can be written into a unified form, and condensates take place in all three cases. This scheme is then generalized to Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity, and an unified equation for multiple holographic states is obtained. Furthermore, the properties of the condensation and the optical conductivity are studied numerically. It is found that, in the case of Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity, it is always possible to find some particular parameters in the corresponding Einstein case where the condensation curves are identical. For fixed scalar field mass $m$, a non-vanishing $\alpha$ becomes the condensation easier than in Einstein gravity for s-wave superconductor. However, the p-wave and d-wave superconductors have $T_c$ greater than s-wave one.Comment: published versio