Device calibration impacts security of quantum key distribution
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 demons...
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Published in | Physical review letters Vol. 107; no. 11; p. 110501 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
09.09.2011
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Online Access | Get more information |
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Summary: | 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. |
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ISSN: | 1079-7114 |
DOI: | 10.1103/physrevlett.107.110501 |