Introducing a decoy-state version of the high-dimensional polarization-phase (PoP) quantum key distribution protocol and explaining its implementation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Researcher, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Shahin Shahr, Shahin Shahr, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Shahin Shahr, Shahin Shahr, Iran

Abstract

Single-photon generation is a constant problem in the experimental implementation of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. Using the attenuated laser pulses is a standard process for generating single photons. In this case, the number of photons follows a Poisson distribution. Such pulses are highly vulnerable to the photon number splitting (PNS) attack. The decoy-state protocol is proposed as an important and effective weapon to deal with the PNS attack. High-dimensional quantum states are another solution to improve the performance of quantum communication systems in the presence of non-ideal components. Generally, the processes related to the production, control, transmission, and detection of high-dimensional quantum states are complex and expensive. The PoP protocol is a high-dimensional QKD protocol based on the polarization and phase of single photons, which, unlike most existing high-dimensional protocols, is simple and contains well-known general components such as conventional optical sources and quantum channels. Using decoy states in the PoP protocol can be a simple and effective solution to reduce the limitations caused by the use of imperfect and non-ideal components in quantum communication systems. This idea significantly improves the main parameters related to the performance of QKD systems (i.e., secure key generation rate and secure transmission distance). In this paper, a decoy-state version of the PoP protocol is introduced. Also, the details related to the schematic of the implementation, the execution method, and the classical post-processing operations required to extract its secure key are explained.

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Volume 12, Issue 2 - Serial Number 46
number 46, summer 2024
September 2024
  • Receive Date: 17 April 2024
  • Revise Date: 06 July 2024
  • Accept Date: 04 August 2024
  • Publish Date: 31 August 2024