Security of hybrid BB84 with heterodyne detection

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Sidhu, Jasminder and Maggi, Rocco and Pascazio, Saverio and Lupo, Cosmo (2025) Security of hybrid BB84 with heterodyne detection. Quantum Science and Technology. ISSN 2058-9565 (In Press) (https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-9565/adaa12)

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Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) promises everlasting security based on the laws of physics. Most common protocols are grouped into two distinct categories based on the degrees of freedom used to carry information, which can be either discrete or continuous, each presenting unique advantages in either performance, feasibility for near-term implementation, and compatibility with existing telecommunications architectures. Recently, hybrid QKD protocols have been introduced to leverage advantages from both categories. In this work we provide a rigorous security proof for a protocol introduced by Qi in 2021, where information is encoded in discrete variables as in the widespread Bennett Brassard 1984 (BB84) protocol but decoded continuously via heterodyne detection. Security proofs for hybrid protocols inherit the same challenges associated with continuous-variable protocols due to unbounded dimensions. Here we successfully address these challenges by exploiting symmetry. Our approach enables truncation of the Hilbert space with precise control of the approximation errors and lead to a tight, semi-analytical expression for the asymptotic key rate under collective attacks. As concrete examples, we apply our theory to compute the key rates under passive attacks, linear loss, and Gaussian noise.

ORCID iDs

Sidhu, Jasminder ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6167-8224, Maggi, Rocco, Pascazio, Saverio and Lupo, Cosmo;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:91822
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    14 January 2025
    Published
    14 January 2025
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:17 Jan 2025 09:57
    Last modified:17 Jan 2025 11:27
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/91822
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