Takuya Hirano

We propose efficient-phase-encoding protocols for continuous-variable quantum key distribution using coherent states and postselection. By these phase encodings, the probability of basis mismatch is reduced and total efficiency is increased. We also propose mixed-state protocols by omitting a part of classical communication steps in the efficient-phase-encoding protocols. The omission implies a reduction of information to an eavesdropper and possibly enhances the security of the protocols. We investigate the security of the protocols against individual beam splitting attack.

We propose efficient-phase-encoding protocols for continuous-variable quantum key distribution using coherent states and postselection. By these phase encodings, the probability of basis mismatch is reduced and total efficiency is increased. We also propose mixed-state protocols by omitting a part of classical communication steps in the efficient-phase-encoding protocols. The omission implies a reduction of information to an eavesdropper and possibly enhances the security of the protocols. We investigate the security of the protocols against individual beam splitting attack.

We present the generation of pulsed squeezed light at telecommunication wavelength of 1.535 mu m via single-pass parametric amplification in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate waveguide using a novel collinear configuration. The quadrature-amplitude of squeezed light is measured in time domain. The classical parametric deamplification of -3.2 dB and quadrature squeezing of -1.5 dB are observed. The maximum classical parametric amplification of 19.3 dB is obtained at pump average power of 0.47 mW, taking advantage of the tight confinement in a waveguide and high peak power of the pulsed light.

We present the generation of pulsed squeezed light at telecommunication wavelength of 1.535 mu m via single-pass parametric amplification in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate waveguide using a novel collinear configuration. The quadrature-amplitude of squeezed light is measured in time domain. The classical parametric deamplification of -3.2 dB and quadrature squeezing of -1.5 dB are observed. The maximum classical parametric amplification of 19.3 dB is obtained at pump average power of 0.47 mW, taking advantage of the tight confinement in a waveguide and high peak power of the pulsed light.

We report "plug & play" and free-space implementations of continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD). In a CV QKD system, a homodyne detector is used to detect a weak signal light by superposing the signal with a local oscillator (LO) whose intensity is much stronger than the signal. In conventional "plug & play" (or auto compensating) systems, two pulses traverse an identical optical path and the intensities of them become equal. In our experiment we use an acousto-optic modulator and have successfully controlled the intensities of the signal and the LO. For free-space implementation of CV QKD the stability of the double interferometer is a crucial problem. We have separated the signal and LO in time longer than the coherence time of the pulse by exploiting the birefringence of EOM crystals. In this setup the signal and LO traverse along the same ray path, so the stability of the interferometer is greatly improved.

We report "plug & play" and free-space implementations of continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD). In a CV QKD system, a homodyne detector is used to detect a weak signal light by superposing the signal with a local oscillator (LO) whose intensity is much stronger than the signal. In conventional "plug & play" (or auto compensating) systems, two pulses traverse an identical optical path and the intensities of them become equal. In our experiment we use an acousto-optic modulator and have successfully controlled the intensities of the signal and the LO. For free-space implementation of CV QKD the stability of the double interferometer is a crucial problem. We have separated the signal and LO in time longer than the coherence time of the pulse by exploiting the birefringence of EOM crystals. In this setup the signal and LO traverse along the same ray path, so the stability of the interferometer is greatly improved.

We investigate the security of continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD) using coherent states in the presence of quadrature excess noise. We consider an eavesdropping attack that uses a linear amplifier and a beam splitter. This attack makes a link between the beam-splitting attack and the intercept-resend attack (classical teleportation attack). We also show how postselection loses its efficiency in a realistic channel.

We investigate the security of continuous-variable (CV) quantum key distribution (QKD) using coherent states in the presence of quadrature excess noise. We consider an eavesdropping attack that uses a linear amplifier and a beam splitter. This attack makes a link between the beam-splitting attack and the intercept-resend attack (classical teleportation attack). We also show how postselection loses its efficiency in a realistic channel.

We present the experimental observation of pulsed squeezed light from a degenerate optical parametric amplifier pumped by a second harmonic of a continuous-wave mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser. With a single pass through a 10 mm long periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystal, the classical parametric gain of 11 is observed. The measured noise reduction in the quiet quadrature is 3.2 dB below the shot-noise level. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

We present the experimental observation of pulsed squeezed light from a degenerate optical parametric amplifier pumped by a second harmonic of a continuous-wave mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser. With a single pass through a 10 mm long periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystal, the classical parametric gain of 11 is observed. The measured noise reduction in the quiet quadrature is 3.2 dB below the shot-noise level. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

We experimentally studied the spin-dependent collision dynamics of Rb-87 spin-2 Bose-Einstein condensates confined in an optical trap. The condensed atoms were initially populated in the \F=2,m(F)=0> state, and their time evolutions in the trap were measured in the presence of external magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 G. The atom loss rate due to inelastic two-body collisions was found to be 1.4(2)x10(-13) cm(3) s(-1). Spin mixing in the F=2 manifold developed dramatically for the first few tens of milliseconds, and the oscillations in the population distribution between different magnetic components were observed over a limited range of magnetic field strengths. The antiferromagnetic property of this system was deduced from the magnetic field dependence on the evolution of relative populations for each m(F) component.

We experimentally studied the spin-dependent collision dynamics of Rb-87 spin-2 Bose-Einstein condensates confined in an optical trap. The condensed atoms were initially populated in the \F=2,m(F)=0> state, and their time evolutions in the trap were measured in the presence of external magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 G. The atom loss rate due to inelastic two-body collisions was found to be 1.4(2)x10(-13) cm(3) s(-1). Spin mixing in the F=2 manifold developed dramatically for the first few tens of milliseconds, and the oscillations in the population distribution between different magnetic components were observed over a limited range of magnetic field strengths. The antiferromagnetic property of this system was deduced from the magnetic field dependence on the evolution of relative populations for each m(F) component.

In this Letter, first, we investigate the security of a continuous-variable quantum cryptographic scheme with a postselection process against individual beam splitting attack. It is shown that the scheme can be secure in the presence of the transmission loss owing to the postselection. Second, we provide a loss limit for continuous-variable quantum cryptography using coherent states taking into account excess Gausian noise on quadrature distribution. Since the excess noise is reduced by the loss mechanism, a realistic intercept-resend attack which makes a Gaussian mixture of coherent states gives a loss limit in the presence of any excess Gaussian noise.

We report an experimental quantum key distribution that utilizes pulsed homodyne detection, instead of photon counting, to detect weak pulses of coherent light. Although our scheme inherently has a finite error rate, homodyne detection allows high-efficiency detection and quantum state measurement of the transmitted light using only conventional devices at room temperature. Our prototype system works at 1.55 mum wavelength and the quantum channel is a 1-km standard optical fiber. The probability distribution of the measured electric-field amplitude has a Gaussian shape. The effect of experimental imperfections such as optical loss and detector noise can be parametrized by the variance and the mean value of the Gaussian distribution.

We report an experimental quantum key distribution that utilizes pulsed homodyne detection, instead of photon counting, to detect weak pulses of coherent light. Although our scheme inherently has a finite error rate, homodyne detection allows high-efficiency detection and quantum state measurement of the transmitted light using only conventional devices at room temperature. Our prototype system works at 1.55 mum wavelength and the quantum channel is a 1-km standard optical fiber. The probability distribution of the measured electric-field amplitude has a Gaussian shape. The effect of experimental imperfections such as optical loss and detector noise can be parametrized by the variance and the mean value of the Gaussian distribution.

Squeezing of the coherent state by optical parametric amplifier is shown to efficiently produce single-photon states with reduced multiphoton probabilities compared with the weak coherent light. It can be a better source for a longer-distance quantum key distribution and also for other quantum optical experiments. The necessary condition for a secure quantum key distribution given by Brassard is analyzed as functions of the coherent-state amplitude and squeeze parameter. Similarly, the rate of the gained secure bits G after error correction and privacy amplification given by Lutkenhaus is calculated. Compared with the weak coherent light, it is found that G is about ten times larger and its high level continues on about two times longer distance. By improvement of the detector efficiency it is shown that the distance extends further. Measurement of the intensity correlation function and the relation to photon antibunching are discussed for the experimental verification of the single-photon generation.

Squeezing of the coherent state by optical parametric amplifier is shown to efficiently produce single-photon states with reduced multiphoton probabilities compared with the weak coherent light. It can be a better source for a longer-distance quantum key distribution and also for other quantum optical experiments. The necessary condition for a secure quantum key distribution given by Brassard is analyzed as functions of the coherent-state amplitude and squeeze parameter. Similarly, the rate of the gained secure bits G after error correction and privacy amplification given by Lutkenhaus is calculated. Compared with the weak coherent light, it is found that G is about ten times larger and its high level continues on about two times longer distance. By improvement of the detector efficiency it is shown that the distance extends further. Measurement of the intensity correlation function and the relation to photon antibunching are discussed for the experimental verification of the single-photon generation.

In this paper we investigate the security of a quantum cryptographic scheme which utilizes balanced homodyne detection and weak coherent pulses (WCP). The performance of the system is mainly characterized by the intensity of the WCP and postselected threshold. Two of the simplest intercept and resend eavesdropping attacks are analyzed. The secure key gain for a given loss is also discussed in terms of the pulse intensity and threshold.

In this paper we investigate the security of a quantum cryptographic scheme which utilizes balanced homodyne detection and weak coherent pulses (WCP). The performance of the system is mainly characterized by the intensity of the WCP and postselected threshold. Two of the simplest intercept and resend eavesdropping attacks are analyzed. The secure key gain for a given loss is also discussed in terms of the pulse intensity and threshold.

Basic concepts and technological issues of quantum cryptography are reviewed.