Secure quantum key distribution with realistic devices

Feihu Xu, Xiongfeng Ma, Qiang Zhang, Hoi-Kwong Lo, and Jian-Wei Pan
Rev. Mod. Phys. 92, 025002 – Published 26 May 2020

Abstract

In principle, quantum key distribution (QKD) offers information-theoretic security based on the laws of physics. In practice, however, the imperfections of realistic devices might introduce deviations from the idealized models used in security analyses. Can quantum code breakers successfully hack real systems by exploiting the side channels? Can quantum code makers design innovative countermeasures to foil quantum code breakers? Theoretical and experimental progress in the practical security aspects of quantum code making and quantum code breaking is reviewed. After numerous attempts, researchers now thoroughly understand and are able to manage the practical imperfections. Recent advances, such as the measurement-device-independent protocol, have closed critical side channels in the physical implementations, paving the way for secure QKD with realistic devices.

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  • Received 18 March 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.92.025002

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & Technology

Authors & Affiliations

Feihu Xu

  • Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China and Shanghai Branch, CAS Center for Excellence and Synergetic Innovation Center in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai 201315, China

Xiongfeng Ma

  • Center for Quantum Information, Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Qiang Zhang

  • Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China and Shanghai Branch, CAS Center for Excellence and Synergetic Innovation Center in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai 201315, China

Hoi-Kwong Lo*

  • Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, Department of Physics and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada

Jian-Wei Pan

  • Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China and Shanghai Branch, CAS Center for Excellence and Synergetic Innovation Center in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Shanghai 201315, China

  • *hklo@ece.utoronto.ca
  • pan@ustc.edu.cn

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Vol. 92, Iss. 2 — April - June 2020

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