Finite-key analysis for measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Marcos Curty (), Feihu Xu, Wei Cui, Charles Ci Wen Lim, Kiyoshi Tamaki and Hoi-Kwong Lo
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Marcos Curty: EI Telecomunicación, University of Vigo
Feihu Xu: Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, University of Toronto
Wei Cui: Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, University of Toronto
Charles Ci Wen Lim: Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva
Kiyoshi Tamaki: NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Hoi-Kwong Lo: Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, University of Toronto

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Quantum key distribution promises unconditionally secure communications. However, as practical devices tend to deviate from their specifications, the security of some practical systems is no longer valid. In particular, an adversary can exploit imperfect detectors to learn a large part of the secret key, even though the security proof claims otherwise. Recently, a practical approach—measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution—has been proposed to solve this problem. However, so far its security has only been fully proven under the assumption that the legitimate users of the system have unlimited resources. Here we fill this gap and provide a rigorous security proof against general attacks in the finite-key regime. This is obtained by applying large deviation theory, specifically the Chernoff bound, to perform parameter estimation. For the first time we demonstrate the feasibility of long-distance implementations of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution within a reasonable time frame of signal transmission.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4732

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