Quantum cryptography with a single photon source

摘要

Quantum cryptography is a method to exchange secret messages with unconditional security over a potentially hostile environment using single photons. Previous implementations of quantum cryptography have relied on highly attenuated laser light to approximate single photon states. Such sources are vulnerable tc eavesdropping attacks based on photon splitting. Here we present an experimental demonstration of quantum cryptography using a single photon source based on Indium Arsenide quantum dots. We achieve a communication rate of 25kbits/s. This source allows secure communication over a quantum channel with up to 28dB of channel loss, as opposed to only 23dB for an attenuated laser.