A countermeasure against bright-light attack on superconducting nanowire single-photon detector in quantum key distribution

Abstract

We present an active anti-latching system for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. We experimentally test it against a bright-light attack, previously used to compromise security of quantum key distribution. Although our system detects continuous blinding, the detector is shown to be partially blindable and controllable by specially tailored sequences of bright pulses. Improvements to the countermeasure are suggested.

arXiv comment10 pages, 6 figures

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• Realizing an entanglement-based multi-user quantum network with integrated photonics
• An approach for security evaluation and certification of a complete quantum communication system
• Optical control of single-photon negative-feedback avalanche diode detector
• Faking photon number on a transition-edge sensor
• Synchronous single-photon detection with self-resetting GHz-gated superconducting NbN nanowires
• Quantum hacking perceiving for quantum key distribution using temporal ghost imaging
• Bright-light detector control emulates the local bounds of Bell-type inequalities
• Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing