Getting Something Out of Nothing

Abstract

We study quantum key distribution with standard weak coherent states and show, rather counter-intuitively, that the detection events originated from vacua can contribute to secure key generation rate, over and above the best prior art result. Our proof is based on a communication complexity/quantum memory argument.

4 pages

References in corpus (3)

• Simple Proof of Security of the BB84 Quantum Key Distribution Protocol
• Secure key from bound entanglement
• A decoy-state protocol for quantum cryptography with 4 intensities of coherent states

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Long distance co-propagation of quantum key distribution and terabit classical optical data channels
• Upper bounds of eavesdropper's performances in finite-length code with decoy method
• General theory for decoy-state quantum key distribution with arbitrary number of intensities
• Decoy-state quantum key distribution with biased basis choice
• A passive transmitter for quantum key distribution with coherent light