Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Joshua C. Bienfang, Val Zwiller, Stephan Steinhauer
Summary: This article focuses on materials challenges in single-photon detectors and reviews recent progress. In particular, SPADs and SNSPDs have shown excellent performance in high-count-rate single-photon counting. The article also discusses device configurations specifically designed for high-speed optoelectronics and compares the advantages and tradeoffs of different device technologies.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
M. Kopytko, K. Murawski, P. Madejczyk, J. Sobieski, W. Gawron
Summary: This study characterized a mid-wave infrared HgCdTe photodiode grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition for its use in avalanche operation. By optimizing the composition of the p-type absorber and the energy gap of the N layer, a high gain at a lower temperature was achieved.
IEEE ELECTRON DEVICE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Optics
E. O. Kiktenko, A. S. Zelenetsky, A. K. Fedorov
Summary: This article develops an unconditionally secure signature scheme that guarantees authenticity and transferability of messages in a QKD network. The scheme is compatible with currently available QKD devices and has been comprehensively analyzed for security.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nitin Jain, Hou-Man Chin, Hossein Mani, Cosmo Lupo, Dino Solar Nikolic, Arne Kordts, Stefano Pirandola, Thomas Brochmann Pedersen, Matthias Kolb, Bernhard Omer, Christoph Pacher, Tobias Gehring, Ulrik L. Andersen
Summary: This paper introduces a continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) protocol that can generate composable keys secure against collective attacks. By using Gaussian-modulated coherent states and improving the security proof and system operation, this CVQKD protocol overcomes the difficulty of key generation in existing protocols. This advance brings CVQKD implementations closer to their discrete-variable counterparts in terms of practicality, performance, and security.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Omar Amer, Vaibhav Garg, Walter O. Krawec
Summary: Quantum technology, especially quantum computing, is rapidly advancing. While many public key schemes are insecure against quantum algorithms, quantum key distribution (QKD) technology provides stronger security guarantees. The development of post-quantum public key systems is necessary to ensure security against future quantum computers. The experimental and commercial availability of QKD technology opens up new possibilities for secure communication.
IEEE AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS MAGAZINE
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Hong-Wei Li, Chun-Mei Zhang, Mu-Sheng Jiang, Qing-Yu Cai
Summary: The study analyzed the security of practical decoy-state QKD systems using advantage distillation technology, showing significant performance improvement in various QKD protocols. It was demonstrated that the maximal transmission distance can be greatly enhanced through this technology, increasing the collection between raw keys in quantum key distribution systems.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Shihai Sun, Anqi Huang
Summary: In this paper, the development of quantum hacking and security evaluation technology for practical quantum key distribution system is briefly reviewed. The security requirements and parameters in each module are discussed, and the relationship between quantum hacking and security parameters are also shown.
Article
Physics, Applied
Xiao-Hai Zhan, Zhen-Qiu Zhong, Shuang Wang, Zhen-Qiang Yin, Wei Chen, De-Yong He, Guang-Can Guo, Zheng-Fu Han
Summary: This article proposes a new approach to quantitatively evaluate the role of unique features in MDI QKD by decomposing the spectral entangled state, thereby improving the secure key rate.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Mohammed Y. Al-Darwbi, Ali A. Ghorbani, Arash Habibi Lashkari
Summary: Quantum key distribution provides information-theoretic security based on quantum mechanics, and entanglement swapping enables the creation of entanglement between previously non-interacting qubits. QKeyShield, a receiver-device-independent quantum key distribution protocol, uses biased operator choice to increase the bit generation rate and employs measures to protect the sent qubits.
Article
Quantum Science & Technology
Hao Tan, Wei-Yang Zhang, Likang Zhang, Wei Li, Sheng-Kai Liao, Feihu Xu
Summary: Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure sharing of secret keys between remote parties. However, the imperfections in realistic devices can pose security risks. This study focuses on the influence of external magnetic fields on the security of practical QKD systems, particularly on the optical isolators and circulators commonly used in standard QKD setups that are susceptible to external magnetic perturbations. The research provides a comprehensive analysis of the security risks and potential countermeasures.
QUANTUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Shanchuan Dong, Yonghe Yu, Shangshuai Zheng, Qiming Zhu, Lei Gai, Wendong Li, Yongjian Gu
Summary: Polarization encoding quantum key distribution is a reliable method for building secure communication systems. In this study, a decoy-state BB84 quantum key distribution system is demonstrated over a water channel with a compact system design. The system utilizes wireless optical transmission and wavelength division multiplexing to achieve classical communication and synchronization while avoiding cross talk. The system has been tested and shows promising performance in generating secure keys in high-loss environments.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Cong Jiang, Xiao-Long Hu, Zong-Wen Yu, Xiang-Bin Wang
Summary: The paper presents a theory for the composable security of the sending-or-not-sending protocol in twin field quantum key distribution, calculating finite-key effects and error rejection with two-way classical communication. It rigorously solves the problem of non-independent probability of tagging or untagging in each two-bit random group, achieving key rates that far exceed the PLOB bound with composable security.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture
Ke Huang, Yi Mu, Fatemeh Rezaeibagha, Xiaosong Zhang, Ting Chen
Summary: Blockchain is a publicly distributed ledger used to record transactions in cryptocurrencies. Researchers have been exploring the integration of PKC algorithms with blockchain to find secure and practical solutions. This study systematically reviews key topics in cryptocurrencies, conducts case analysis, and proposes a mutable blockchain construction.
Article
Physics, Applied
Luyu Huang, Xiangyu Wang, Ziyang Chen, Yanhao Sun, Song Yu, Hong Guo
Summary: Continuous-variable measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (CV-MDI QKD) is able to defend against all attacks on the measurement devices. However, the imperfections of the actual source pose practical security risks to the CV-MDI QKD system. We propose a countermeasure based on the one-time-calibration method to eliminate the negative impact of the actual source, improving the practical security of the CV-MDI QKD system.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yang Wang, Ge-Hai Du, Yang-Bin Xu, Chun Zhou, Mu-Sheng Jiang, Hong-Wei Li, Wan-Su Bao
Summary: High-dimensional quantum key distribution (HD-QKD) is a new type of QKD protocol with many advantages, but practical imperfections in devices may impact its practical security. This paper studies the influence of a realistic intensity modulator on the practical security of HD-QKD systems.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cecilia Clivati, Alice Meda, Simone Donadello, Salvatore Virzi, Marco Genovese, Filippo Levi, Alberto Mura, Mirko Pittaluga, Zhiliang Yuan, Andrew J. Shields, Marco Lucamarini, Ivo Pietro Degiovanni, Davide Calonico
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cecilia Clivati, Alice Meda, Simone Donadello, Salvatore Virzi, Marco Genovese, Filippo Levi, Alberto Mura, Mirko Pittaluga, Zhiliang Yuan, Andrew J. Shields, Marco Lucamarini, Ivo Pietro Degiovanni, Davide Calonico
Summary: In this study, the authors use technologies from the optical clocks community to demonstrate a setup for twin-field quantum key distribution (QKD) that extends the coherence times by three orders of magnitude, overcoming the main challenge towards real-world implementation. They develop a solution using interferometry techniques to enable simultaneous key streaming and channel length control, and successfully demonstrate it on a 206 km field-deployed fiber. This technique represents an effective solution for real-world quantum communications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yi-Zhen Shao, Zhi-Liang Yuan, Yan-Yan Liu, Feng-Qin Liu, Rui-Chen Xiang, Yuan-Yuan Zhang, Yong-Zhong Ye, Yun Chen, Qian Wen
Summary: Understanding how species respond to climate change is crucial for conservation and management. This study examined high and low elevation firs in North America and East Asia to test two hypotheses on expansion during different climatic periods. The findings suggest that high-elevation firs experienced glacial expansion, while low-elevation firs expanded during interglacial periods. Conservation strategies, such as ex-situ conservation, are needed to protect endangered fir species in the face of increasing global warming.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Qiang Fu, Yizhen Shao, Senlin Wang, Fengqin Liu, Guohang Tian, Yun Chen, Zhiliang Yuan, Yongzhong Ye
Summary: This study investigated the influence of different vegetation types on soil microbes in a temperate urban forest in China using high-throughput sequencing techniques. The results showed that different vegetation types have varying impacts on the abundance and spatial distribution of soil microbes, highlighting the importance of vegetation types for microbial biodiversity conservation in urban forests.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Xiayan Zhou, Zhao Wang, Wenxin Liu, Qianjin Fu, Yizhen Shao, Fengqin Liu, Yongzhong Ye, Yun Chen, Zhiliang Yuan
Summary: The distribution of woody plants in mountain forest ecosystems is specialized and influenced by topography and monsoons. The community structure and stability vary among different aspects of the mountain.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhiliang Yuan, Man Xiao, Xiao Su, He Zhao, Yushan Li, Huiping Zhang, Ziyu Zhou, Rui Qi, Yun Chen, Wei Wang
Summary: This study investigated the plant diversity in wetlands along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. A total of 184 plant species belonging to 52 families and 135 genera were found in the seven nature reserves. The results showed that both environmental factors and human disturbance factors influenced the plant diversity in these wetlands.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ziyu Zhou, Man Xiao, Senlin Wang, Xueying Wang, Wang Li, Yun Chen, Zhiliang Yuan, Erhui Guo
Summary: Temporal partitioning hypothesis refers to the promotion of stable species' coexistence by reducing the likelihood of competitive exclusion. In this study, a field survey of fungal sporocarps was conducted, and the results showed highly specialized and uneven emergence of different species based on month. The findings suggest the importance of temporal partitioning in maintaining local diversity in the fungal community.
Article
Microbiology
Yun Chen, Jingjing Xi, Man Xiao, Senlin Wang, Wenju Chen, Fengqin Liu, Yizhen Shao, Zhiliang Yuan
Summary: This study shows that the distribution patterns of soil microbial communities are influenced by plant community composition, and different types of plant populations exhibit specialized distribution of soil microbes. Fungi are more specialized than bacteria.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tao Wang, Yao Zhang, Weiyu Kong, Liang Qiao, Bingguo Peng, Zhichao Shen, Qifeng Han, Han Chen, Zhiliang Yuan, Rongkun Zheng, Xudong Yang
Summary: This study presents a solution strategy to stabilize the hole transport in organic layers of perovskite solar cells, resulting in improved hole conductivity and well-matched band alignment. The fabricated solar cells exhibited excellent durability and maintained high conversion efficiency under extreme conditions.
Article
Optics
Yuanbin Fan, Tingting Shi, Weijie Ji, Lai Zhou, Yang Ji, Zhiliang Yuan
Summary: Afterpulsing noise in InGaAs/InP single photon avalanche photodiodes can be suppressed by limiting the avalanche charge via sub-nanosecond gating. A novel ultra-narrowband interference circuit (UNIC) is proposed to reject the capacitive response while keeping photon signals intact. By cascading two UNIC's in a readout circuit, high count rates and low afterpulsing probabilities were achieved at different detection efficiencies and temperatures.
Article
Optics
Yuanfei Gao, Zhiliang Yuan
Summary: Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a promising technology for distributing secure encryption keys between distant users. The use of the decoy-state technique has greatly improved its practicality and performance, and is widely used in commercial systems. However, conventional intensity modulators can introduce security vulnerabilities in high-speed QKD systems. In this study, we analyze the transfer function of an in-phase/quadrature (IQ) modulator and demonstrate its superiority for stable decoy-state generation. IQ modulators, with their convenient two-level modulation and high-speed capabilities, are ideal for high-speed decoy-state QKD systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lai Zhou, Jinping Lin, Yumang Jing, Zhiliang Yuan
Summary: Twin-field (TF) quantum key distribution (QKD) has emerged as a practical solution for long-distance secure fibre communication due to its repeater-like rate-loss scaling. However, the implementation complexity of TF-QKD can be a challenge. This study proposes a technique that stabilizes an open channel without the need for a closed interferometer, enabling a simple and versatile TF-QKD setup. The authors demonstrate the feasibility of this approach and achieve a finite-size rate of 0.32 bit/s at a distance of 615.6 km.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Qiang Zeng, Haoyang Wang, Huihong Yuan, Yuanbin Fan, Lai Zhou, Yuanfei Gao, Haiqiang Ma, Zhiliang Yuan
Summary: Quantum entanglement is a vital resource in quantum information processing, but the control of this resource has been overlooked. This work proposes a simple protocol to upgrade an entanglement source with access control through phase randomization. The enhanced source effectively controls users' utilization of the entanglement resource for quantum cryptography and serves as a practical countermeasure against memory attacks in device-independent quantum key distribution at a low cost.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2023)
Article
Optics
Y. S. Lo, R. I. Woodward, N. Walk, M. Lucamarini, I. De Marco, T. K. Paraiso, M. Pittaluga, T. Roger, M. Sanzaro, Z. L. Yuan, A. J. Shields
Summary: Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows secure key exchange between users, but current systems rely on expensive and bulky modulators, limiting compactness. We propose a novel optical transmitter design using directly modulated lasers and coherent interference to generate intensity- and phase-tunable pulses at high speeds. Our design eliminates the need for bulk modulators, making it suitable for miniaturization and integration. We demonstrate a proof-of-principle QKD to showcase its potential applications.