The peculiar properties of quantum mechanics allow two remote parties to communicate a private, secret key, which is protected from eavesdropping by the laws of physics(1-4). So-called quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations always rely on detectors to measure the relevant quantum property of single photons(5). Here we demonstrate experimentally that the detectors in two commercially available QKD systems can be fully remote-controlled using specially tailored bright illumination. This makes it possible to tracelessly acquire the full secret key; we propose an eavesdropping apparatus built from off-the-shelf components. The loophole is likely to be present in most QKD systems using avalanche photodiodes to detect single photons. We believe that our findings are crucial for strengthening the security of practical QKD, by identifying and patching technological deficiencies

Quantum key distribution (QKD) promises informationtheoretically secure communication, and is already on the verge of commercialization. Thus far, different QKD protocols have been proposed theoretically and implemented experimentally [1, 2]. The next step will be to implement high-dimensional protocols in order to improve noise resistance and increase the data rate [3][4][5][6][7]. Hitherto, no experimental verification of high-dimensional QKD in the single-photon regime has been conducted outside of the laboratory. Here, we report the realization of such a single-photon QKD system in a turbulent free-space link of 0.3 km over the city of Ottawa, taking advantage of both the spin and orbital angular momentum photonic degrees of freedom. This combination of optical angular momenta allows us to create a 4-dimensional state [8]; wherein, using a high-dimensional BB84 protocol [3, 4], a quantum bit error rate of 11% was attained with a corresponding secret key rate of 0.65 bits per sifted photon. While an error rate of 5% with a secret key rate of 0.43 bits per sifted photon is achieved for the case of 2-dimensional structured photons. Even through moderate turbulence without active wavefront correction, it is possible to securely transmit information carried by structured photons, opening the way for intra-city high-dimensional quantum communications under realistic conditions.In addition to wavelength and polarization, a light wave is characterized by its orbital angular momentum (OAM) [9], which corresponds to its helical wavefronts. Polarization is naturally bi-dimensional, i.e. {|L , |R }, and the associated angular momentum can take the values of ± per photon, where is the reduced Planck constant, and |L and |R are left-and right-handed circular polarizations, respectively. In contrast, OAM is inherently unbounded, such that a photon with intertwined helical wavefronts, | , carries units of OAM, where is an integer [10]. Quantum states of light resulting from an arbitrary coherent superposition of different polarizations and spatial modes, e.g. OAM, are referred to as structured photons; these photons can be used to realize higher-dimensional states of light [8]. Aside from their fundamental significance in quantum physics [11,12], single photons encoded in higher dimensions provide an advantage in terms of security tolerance and encrypting alphabets for quantum cryptography [3, 4,7] and classical communications [13]. The behaviour of light carrying OAM through turbulent conditions has been studied theoretically and simulated in the laboratory scale [14][15][16][17]. Experimentally, OAM states have been tested in classical communications across intra-city links in Los Angeles (120 m) [18], Venice (420 m) [19], Erlangen (1.6 km) [20], Vienna (3 km) [21], and between two Canary Islands (143 km) [22] which is the longest link thus far. With attenuated lasers, OAM states and vector vortex beams have been respectively implemented in high-dimensional and 2-dimensional BB84 protocols, where the former was performed ...

We demonstrate for the first time natural phase matching for optical frequency doubling in a high-Q whispering-gallery-mode resonator made of lithium niobate. A conversion efficiency of 9% is achieved at 30 mu W in-coupled continuous wave pump power. The observed saturation pump power of 3.2 mW is almost 2 orders of magnitude lower than the state-of-the-art value. This suggests an application of our frequency doubler as a source of nonclassical light requiring only a low-power pump, which easily can be quantum noise limited. Our theoretical analysis of the three-wave mixing in a whispering-gallery-mode resonator provides the relative conversion efficiencies for frequency doubling in various modes

Characterizing the physical channel and calibrating the cryptosystem hardware are prerequisites for establishing a quantum channel for quantum key distribution (QKD). Moreover, an inappropriately implemented calibration routine can open a fatal security loophole. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a method to induce a large temporal detector efficiency mismatch in a commercial QKD system by deceiving a channel length calibration routine. We then devise an optimal and realistic strategy using faked states to break the security of the cryptosystem. A fix for this loophole is also suggested.

We present a method to control the detection events in quantum key distribution systems that use gated single-photon detectors. We employ bright pulses as faked states, timed to arrive at the avalanche photodiodes outside the activation time. The attack can remain unnoticed, since the faked states do not increase the error rate per se. This allows for an intercept-resend attack, where an eavesdropper transfers her detection events to the legitimate receiver without causing any errors. As a side effect, afterpulses, originating from accumulated charge carriers in the detectors, increase the error rate. We have experimentally tested detectors of the system id3110 (Clavis2) from ID Quantique. We identify the parameter regime in which the attack is feasible despite the side effect. Furthermore, we outline how simple modifications in the implementation can make the device immune to this attack.

It has previously been shown that the gated detectors of two commercially available quantum key distribution (QKD) systems are blindable and controllable by an eavesdropper using continuous-wave illumination and short bright trigger pulses, manipulating voltages in the circuit [Nat. Photonics 4, 686 (2010)]. This allows for an attack eavesdropping the full raw and secret key without increasing the quantum bit error rate (QBER). Here we show how thermal effects in detectors under bright illumination can lead to the same outcome. We demonstrate that the detectors in a commercial QKD system Clavis2 can be blinded by heating the avalanche photo diodes (APDs) using bright illumination, so-called thermal blinding. Further, the detectors can be triggered using short bright pulses once they are blind. For systems with pauses between packet transmission such as the plug-and-play systems, thermal inertia enables Eve to apply the bright blinding illumination before eavesdropping, making her more difficult to catch.

Optical parametric down-conversion has proven to be a valuable source of nonclassical light. The process is inherently able to produce twin-beam correlations along with individual intensity squeezing of either parametric beam, when pumped far above threshold. Here, we present for the first time the direct observation of intensity squeezing of -1.2  dB of each of the individual parametric beams in parametric down-conversion by use of a high quality whispering-gallery-mode disk resonator. In addition, we observed twin-beam quantum correlations of -2.7  dB with this cavity. Such resonators feature strong optical confinement and offer tunable coupling to an external optical field. This work exemplifies the potential of crystalline whispering-gallery-mode resonators for the generation of quantum light. The simplicity of this device makes the application of quantum light in various fields highly feasible.

Quantum systems such as, for example, photons, atoms, or Bose-Einstein condensates, prepared in complex states where entanglement between distinct degrees of freedom is present, may display several intriguing features. In this Letter we introduce the concept of such complex quantum states for intense beams of light by exploiting the properties of cylindrically polarized modes. We show that already in a classical picture the spatial and polarization field variables of these modes cannot be factorized. Theoretically it is proven that by quadrature squeezing cylindrically polarized modes one generates entanglement between these two different degrees of freedom. Experimentally we demonstrate amplitude squeezing of an azimuthally polarized mode by exploiting the nonlinear Kerr effect in a specially tailored photonic crystal fiber. These results display that such novel continuous-variable entangled systems can, in principle, be realized.