Source-linked AI summary
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution over untrustful metropolitan network
Yan-Lin Tang, Hua-Lei Yin, Qi Zhao, Hui Liu, Xiang-Xiang Sun, Ming-Qi Huang, Wei-Jun Zhang, Si-Jing Chen, Lu Zhang, Li-Xing You, Zhen Wang, Yang Liu, Chao-Yang Lu, Xiao Jiang, Xiongfeng Ma, Qiang Zhang, Teng-Yun Chen, Jian-Wei Pan
TL;DR
Existing metropolitan quantum-network field tests rely on trusted relays, creating a security weakness if relays are dishonest or compromised. This paper builds a three-user, four-node MDIQKD network and demonstrates week-long operation with a secure key rate ten times larger than a previous result.
Problem
Existing star-type quantum networks rely on trusted relays, which constitute a critical security weakness if a relay is dishonest.
Method
The paper experimentally demonstrates a three-user, four-node MDIQKD network in Hefei, China, using a star-type architecture with shared measurement devices.
Results
The system continuously ran through one week with a secure key rate ten times larger than a previous result.
Takeaways & Limitations
The results demonstrate that MDIQKD combines security and practicality as an appealing solution for secure metropolitan communications.
Abstract
from arXiv · showhide
Quantum cryptography holds the promise to establish an information-theoretically secure global network. All field tests of metropolitan-scale quantum networks to date are based on trusted relays. The security critically relies on the accountability of the trusted relays, which will break down if the relay is dishonest or compromised. Here, we construct a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDIQKD) network in a star topology over a 200 square kilometers metropolitan area, which is secure against untrustful relays and against all detection attacks. In the field test, our system continuously runs through one week with a secure key rate ten times larger than previous result. Our results demonstrate that the MDIQKD network, combining the best of both worlds --- security and practicality, constitutes an appealing solution to secure metropolitan communications.