Scalable implementation of (d+1)(d+1) mutually unbiased bases for dd-dimensional quantum key distribution

A high-dimensional quantum key distribution (QKD) can improve error rate tolerance and the secret key rate. Many $d$-dimensional QKDs have used two mutually unbiased bases (MUBs), while $(d+1)$ MUBs enable a more robust QKD. However, a scalable implementation has not been achieved because the setups have required $d$ devices even for two MUBs or a flexible convertor for a specific optical mode. Here, we propose a scalable and general implementation of $(d+1)$ MUBs using $\log_p d$ interferometers in prime power dimensions $d=p^N$. We implemented the setup for time-bin states and observed an average error rate of 3.8% for phase bases, which is lower than the 23.17% required for a secure QKD against collective attack in $d=4$.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, followed by Supplemental Material of 8 pages, 1 figure, 1 tabl

Generation of a time-bin Greenberger--Horne--Zeilinger state with an optical switch

Multipartite entanglement is a critical resource in quantum information processing that exhibits much richer phenomenon and stronger correlations than in bipartite systems. This advantage is also reflected in its multi-user applications. Although many demonstrations have used photonic polarization qubits, polarization-mode dispersion confines the transmission of photonic polarization qubits through an optical fiber. Consequently, time-bin qubits have a particularly important role to play in quantum communication systems. Here, we generate a three-photon time-bin Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state using a 2 x 2 optical switch as a time-dependent beam splitter to entangle time-bin Bell states from a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source and a weak coherent pulse. To characterize the three-photon time-bin GHZ state, we performed measurement estimation, showed a violation of the Mermin inequality, and used quantum state tomography to fully reconstruct a density matrix, which shows a state fidelity exceeding 70%. We expect that our three-photon time-bin GHZ state can be used for long-distance multi-user quantum communication.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

10-GHz-clock time-multiplexed non-degenerate optical parametric oscillator network with a variable planar lightwave circuit interferometer

A coherent XY machine (CXYM) is a physical spin simulator that can simulate the XY model by mapping XY spins onto the continuous phases of non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators (NOPOs). Here, we demonstrated a large-scale CXYM with >47,000 spins by generating 10-GHz-clock time-multiplexed NOPO pulses via four-wave mixing in a highly nonlinear fiber inside a fiber ring cavity. By implementing a unidirectional coupling from the i-th pulse to the (i+1)-th pulse with a variable 1-pulse delay planar lightwave circuit interferometer, we successfully controlled the effective temperature of a one-dimensional XY spin network within two orders of magnitude.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Quantum key distribution over 40 dB channel loss using superconducting single photon detectors

Quantum key distribution (QKD) offers an unconditionally secure means of communication based on the laws of quantum mechanics. Currently, a major challenge is to achieve a QKD system with a 40 dB channel loss, which is required if we are to realize global scale QKD networks using communication satellites. Here we report the first QKD experiment in which secure keys were distributed over 42 dB channel loss and 200 km of optical fibre. We employed the differential phase shift quantum key distribution (DPS-QKD) protocol implemented with a 10-GHz clock frequency, and superconducting single photon detectors (SSPD) based on NbN nanowire. The SSPD offers a very low dark count rate (a few Hz) and small timing jitter (60 ps full width at half maximum). These characteristics allowed us to construct a 10-GHz clock QKD system and thus distribute secure keys over channel loss of 42 dB. In addition, we achieved a 17 kbit/s secure key rate over 105 km of optical fibre, which is two orders of magnitude higher than the previous record, and a 12.1 bit/s secure key rate over 200 km of optical fibre, which is the longest terrestrial QKD yet demonstrated. The keys generated in our experiment are secure against both general collective attacks on individual photons and a specific collective attack on multi-photons, known as a sequential unambiguous state discrimination (USD) attack.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. Original versio

Performance of various quantum key distribution systems using 1.55 um up-conversion single-photon detectors

We compare the performance of various quantum key distribution (QKD) systems using a novel single-photon detector, which combines frequency up-conversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide and a silicon avalanche photodiode (APD). The comparison is based on the secure communication rate as a function of distance for three QKD protocols: the Bennett-Brassard 1984 (BB84), the Bennett, Brassard, and Mermin 1992 (BBM92), and the coherent differential phase shift keying (DPSK). We show that the up-conversion detector allows for higher communication rates and longer communication distances than the commonly used InGaAs/InP APD for all the three QKD protocols.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure