Setting best practice criteria for self-differencing avalanche photodiodes in quantum key distribution

Alexander Koehler-Sidki; James F. Dynes; Marco Lucamarini; George L. Roberts; Andrew W. Sharpe; Seb J. Savory; Zhiliang Yuan; Andrew J. Shields

doi:10.1117/12.2275675

5 October 2017 Setting best practice criteria for self-differencing avalanche photodiodes in quantum key distribution

Alexander Koehler-Sidki, James F. Dynes, Marco Lucamarini, George L. Roberts, Andrew W. Sharpe, Seb J. Savory, Zhiliang Yuan, Andrew J. Shields

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10442, Quantum Information Science and Technology III; 104420L (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2275675
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2017, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

In recent years, the security of avalanche photodiodes as single photon detectors for quantum key distribution has been subjected to much scrutiny. The most prominent example of this surrounds the vulnerability of such devices to blinding under strong illumination. We focus on self-differencing avalanche photodiodes, single photon detectors that have demonstrated count rates exceeding 1 GCounts/s resulting in secure key rates over 1 MBit/s. These detectors use a passive electronic circuit to cancel any periodic signals thereby enhancing detection sensitivity. However this intrinsic feature can be exploited by adversaries to gain control of the devices using illumination of a moderate intensity. Through careful experimental examinations, we define here a set of criteria for these detectors to avoid such attacks.

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Alexander Koehler-Sidki, James F. Dynes, Marco Lucamarini, George L. Roberts, Andrew W. Sharpe, Seb J. Savory, Zhiliang Yuan, and Andrew J. Shields "Setting best practice criteria for self-differencing avalanche photodiodes in quantum key distribution", Proc. SPIE 10442, Quantum Information Science and Technology III, 104420L (5 October 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2275675

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