Employing covert communications-based information reconciliation and multiple spatial modes to polarization entanglement QKD

Abstract

The information that is leaked to an eavesdropper during the error reconciliation phase of quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols limits the maximum bit error rate (BER) of a system. In a standard QKD protocol, parity bits are transmitted over an authenticated noiseless channel, to which Eve has access. This Letter presents the concept of using a covert classical communication channel to transmit the parity bits between Alice and Bob without Eve gaining information of the transmitted parity bits. This allows for higher secure key generation rates and operation of a QKD system in which the BER exceeds the limit of the standard protocol. This concept is then applied to a practical free-space optical system that contains multiple parallel channels, where channel loss, crosstalk, atmospheric turbulence effects, and noise are considered.

© 2019 Optical Society of America

Trade study of aperture size, adaptive optics and multiple spatial modes for a polarization entanglement QKD system over a 30 km maritime channel

John Gariano and Ivan B. Djordjevic
Appl. Opt. 57(28) 8451-8459 (2018)

Experimental realization of a reference-frame-independent decoy BB84 quantum key distribution based on Sagnac interferometer

Ya-Ping Li, Wei Chen, Fang-Xiang Wang, Zhen-Qiang Yin, Li Zhang, Hang Liu, Shuang Wang, De-Yong He, Zheng Zhou, Guang-Can Guo, and Zheng-Fu Han
Opt. Lett. 44(18) 4523-4526 (2019)

Theoretical study of a submarine to submarine quantum key distribution systems

John Gariano and Ivan B. Djordjevic
Opt. Express 27(3) 3055-3064 (2019)

Multi-matrix error estimation and reconciliation for quantum key distribution

Chaohui Gao, Dong Jiang, Yu Guo, and Lijun Chen
Opt. Express 27(10) 14545-14566 (2019)

Proof of principle implementation of phase-flip error rejection quantum key distribution

Juan Wu, Xue-Bi An, Zhen-Qiang Yin, Fang-Xiang Wang, Wei Chen, Shuang Wang, Guang-Can Guo, and Zheng-Fu Han
Opt. Lett. 43(19) 4707-4710 (2018)