Monte Carlo approach to the evaluation of the security of device-independent quantum key distribution

We present a generic study on the information-theoretic security of multi-setting device-independent quantum key distribution protocols, i.e., ones that involve more than two measurements (or inputs) for each party to perform, and yield dichotomic results (or outputs). The approach we develop, when applied in protocols with either symmetric or asymmetric Bell experiments, yields nontrivial estimates of the secure key rates, along with those of the minimum detection efficiencies of the measuring devices. The results imply that increasing the number of measurements may lower the minimum efficiency required by the security criterion. The improvement, however, depends on (i) the choice of multi-setting Bell inequalities chosen to be tested in a protocol, and (ii) either a symmetric or asymmetric Bell experiment is considered. Our results serve as an advance toward the quest for evaluating security and reducing efficiency requirement of applying device-independent quantum key distribution in scenarios without heralding.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables; minor changes, close to the submitted manuscrip

Demonstrating quantum contextuality of indistinguishable particles by a single family of noncontextuality inequalities

Quantum theory has the intriguing feature that is inconsistent with noncontextual hidden variable models, for which the outcome of a measurement does not depend on which other compatible measurements are being performed concurrently. While various proofs of such contextual behavior of quantum systems have been established, relatively little is known concerning the possibility to demonstrate this intriguing feature for indistinguishable particles. Here, we show in a simple and systematic manner that with projective measurements alone, it is possible to demonstrate quantum contextuality for such systems of arbitrary Hilbert space dimensions, including those corresponding to a qubit. Our demonstration is applicable to a single fermion as well as multiple fermions, and thus also a composite boson formed from an even number of fermions. In addition, our approach gives a clear demonstration of the intimate connection between complementarity and contextuality, two seemingly unrelated aspects of quantum theory.Comment: 9 pages, no figure; Major changes; More changes. Accepted in Scientific Report

State-independent contextuality sets for a qutrit

We present a generalized set of complex rays for a qutrit in terms of parameter $q=e^{i2\pi/k}$, a $k$-th root of unity. Remarkably, when $k=2,3$, the set reduces to two well known state-independent contextuality (SIC) sets: the Yu-Oh set and the Bengtsson-Blanchfield-Cabello set. Based on the Ramanathan-Horodecki criterion and the violation of a noncontextuality inequality, we have proven that the sets with $k=3m$ and $k=4$ are SIC, while the set with $k=5$ is not. Our generalized set of rays will theoretically enrich the study of SIC proof, and experimentally stimulate the novel application to quantum information processing.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; revised versio