Fundamental limits of repeaterless quantum communications

Stefano Pirandola (), Riccardo Laurenza, Carlo Ottaviani and Leonardo Banchi
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Stefano Pirandola: University of York
Riccardo Laurenza: University of York
Carlo Ottaviani: University of York
Leonardo Banchi: University College London

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Quantum communications promises reliable transmission of quantum information, efficient distribution of entanglement and generation of completely secure keys. For all these tasks, we need to determine the optimal point-to-point rates that are achievable by two remote parties at the ends of a quantum channel, without restrictions on their local operations and classical communication, which can be unlimited and two-way. These two-way assisted capacities represent the ultimate rates that are reachable without quantum repeaters. Here, by constructing an upper bound based on the relative entropy of entanglement and devising a dimension-independent technique dubbed ‘teleportation stretching’, we establish these capacities for many fundamental channels, namely bosonic lossy channels, quantum-limited amplifiers, dephasing and erasure channels in arbitrary dimension. In particular, we exactly determine the fundamental rate-loss tradeoff affecting any protocol of quantum key distribution. Our findings set the limits of point-to-point quantum communications and provide precise and general benchmarks for quantum repeaters.

Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15043

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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15043

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