Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution

Yuanfei Gao; Tao Wang; Yixin Wang; Zhiliang Yuan

doi:10.1088/1674-4926/24090052

J. Semicond. > In Press

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Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution

Yuanfei Gao^1,, Tao Wang^{1, 2}, Yixin Wang² and Zhiliang Yuan¹

+ Author Affiliations

Corresponding author: Yuanfei Gao, gaoyf@baqis.ac.cn

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/24090052CSTR: 32376.14.1674-4926.24090052

Abstract: In the implementation of quantum key distribution, Security certification is a prerequisite for social deployment. Transmitters in decoy-BB84 systems typically employ gain-switched semiconductor lasers (GSSLs) to generate optical pulses for encoding quantum information. However, the working state of the laser may violate the assumption of pulse independence. Here, we explored the dependence of intensity fluctuation and high-order correlation distribution of optical pulses on driving currents at 2.5 GHz. We found the intensity correlation distribution had a significant dependence on the driving currents, which would affect the final key rate. By utilizing rate equations in our simulation, we confirmed the fluctuation and correlation originated from the instability of gain-switched laser driven at a GHz-repetitive frequency. Finally, we evaluated the impact of intensity fluctuation on the secure key rate. This work will provide valuable insights for assessing whether the transmitter is operating at optimal state in practice.

Key words: intensity correlation, gain-switched laser, quantum key distribution

References

[1]	Gisin N, Ribordy G, Tittel W, et al. Quantum cryptography. Rev Mod Phys, 2002, 74, 145 doi: 10.1103/RevModPhys.74.145
[2]	Fröhlich B, Dynes J F, Lucamarini M, et al. A quantum access network. Nature, 2013, 501, 69 doi: 10.1038/nature12493
[3]	Chapuran T E, Toliver P, Peters N A, et al. Optical networking for quantum key distribution and quantum communications. N J Phys, 2009, 11, 105001 doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/10/105001
[4]	Sasaki M, Fujiwara M, Ishizuka H, et al. Field test of quantum key distribution in the Tokyo QKD Network. Opt Express, 2011, 19, 10387 doi: 10.1364/OE.19.010387
[5]	Chen T Y, Wang J, Liang H, et al. Metropolitan all-pass and inter-city quantum communication network. Opt Express, 2010, 18, 27217 doi: 10.1364/OE.18.027217
[6]	Wang X B. Beating the photon-number-splitting attack in practical quantum cryptography. Phys Rev Lett, 2005, 94, 230503 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.230503
[7]	Lo H K, Ma X F, Chen K. Decoy state quantum key distribution. Phys Rev Lett, 2005, 94, 230504 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.230504
[8]	Wang X B, Yang L, Peng C Z, et al. Decoy-state quantum key distribution with both source errors and statistical fluctuations. New J Phys, 2009, 11, 075006 doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/7/075006
[9]	Wang X B, Peng C Z, Zhang J, et al. General theory of decoy-state quantum cryptography with source errors. Phys Rev A, 2008, 77, 042311 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.77.042311
[10]	Lütkenhaus N, Jahma M. Quantum key distribution with realistic states: Photon-number statistics in the photon-number splitting attack. New J Phys, 2002, 4, 44 doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/4/1/344
[11]	Scarani V, Bechmann-Pasquinucci H, Cerf N J, et al. The security of practical quantum key distribution. Rev Mod Phys, 2009, 81, 1301 doi: 10.1103/RevModPhys.81.1301
[12]	Grünenfelder F, Boaron A, Rusca D, et al. Performance and security of 5 GHz repetition rate polarization-based quantum key distribution. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 144003 doi: 10.1063/5.0021468
[13]	Nakata K, Tomita A, Fujiwara M, et al. Intensity fluctuation of a gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution systems. Opt Express, 2017, 25, 622 doi: 10.1364/OE.25.000622
[14]	Gao Y F, Yuan Z L. Suppression of patterning effect using IQ modulator for high-speed quantum key distribution systems. Opt Lett, 2023, 48, 1068 doi: 10.1364/OL.481374
[15]	Kobayashi T, Tomita A, Okamoto A. Evaluation of the phase randomness of a light source in quantum-key-distribution systems with an attenuated laser. Phys Rev A, 2014, 90, 032320 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.90.032320
[16]	Lo H K, Preskill J. Security of quantum key distribution using weak coherent states with nonrandom phases. Quantum Inf Comput, 2007, 7, 431 doi: 10.26421/QIC7.5-6-2
[17]	Yuan Z L, Lucamarini M, Dynes J F, et al. Robust random number generation using steady-state emission of gain-switched laser diodes. Appl Phys Lett, 2014, 104, 261112 doi: 10.1063/1.4886761
[18]	Shakhovoy R, Puplauskis M, Sharoglazova V, et al. Phase randomness in a semiconductor laser: Issue of quantum random-number generation. Phys Rev A, 2023, 107, 012616 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.107.012616
[19]	Dynes J F, Yuan Z L, Sharpe A W, et al. Probing higher order correlations of the photon field with photon number resolving avalanche photodiodes. Opt Express, 2011, 19, 13268 doi: 10.1364/OE.19.013268

Fig. 1. (Color online) (a) Experimental setup. A fiber-pigtailed distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode is driven by DC and AC electric pulse from pulse generator (PG). The electrical pulse from pulse generator (PG) was amplified by RF Amplifier. The operation temperature of the DFB laser is regulated by a temperature controller driving the built-in TEC. (b) Temporal profiles of the laser pulses for different DC currents. (c) Intensity fluctuation of a GSSL as a function of the DC driving currents.

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Fig. 2. (Color online) (a) Intensity correlation distribution between adjacent pulses "T" and "X" under different driving currents. (b) Intensity correlation distribution between pulses "T" and "Y" under different driving currents. (c) Intensity correlation distribution between pulses "T" and "Z" under different driving currents. (d) Auto-correlation function of intensity between adjacent pulses with different intervals.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 3. (Color online) Calculated temporal behavior. (a)−(e) The evolution of photon and carrier density from a GSSL as the driving currents increase. The threshold carrier density is depicted as a horizontal dash-dot line. (f) The autocorrelation function for adjacent pulse with different intervals.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 4. (Color online) The influence of light pulse intensity fluctuation on SKR under different driving currents.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

[1]	Gisin N, Ribordy G, Tittel W, et al. Quantum cryptography. Rev Mod Phys, 2002, 74, 145 doi: 10.1103/RevModPhys.74.145
[2]	Fröhlich B, Dynes J F, Lucamarini M, et al. A quantum access network. Nature, 2013, 501, 69 doi: 10.1038/nature12493
[3]	Chapuran T E, Toliver P, Peters N A, et al. Optical networking for quantum key distribution and quantum communications. N J Phys, 2009, 11, 105001 doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/10/105001
[4]	Sasaki M, Fujiwara M, Ishizuka H, et al. Field test of quantum key distribution in the Tokyo QKD Network. Opt Express, 2011, 19, 10387 doi: 10.1364/OE.19.010387
[5]	Chen T Y, Wang J, Liang H, et al. Metropolitan all-pass and inter-city quantum communication network. Opt Express, 2010, 18, 27217 doi: 10.1364/OE.18.027217
[6]	Wang X B. Beating the photon-number-splitting attack in practical quantum cryptography. Phys Rev Lett, 2005, 94, 230503 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.230503
[7]	Lo H K, Ma X F, Chen K. Decoy state quantum key distribution. Phys Rev Lett, 2005, 94, 230504 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.230504
[8]	Wang X B, Yang L, Peng C Z, et al. Decoy-state quantum key distribution with both source errors and statistical fluctuations. New J Phys, 2009, 11, 075006 doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/11/7/075006
[9]	Wang X B, Peng C Z, Zhang J, et al. General theory of decoy-state quantum cryptography with source errors. Phys Rev A, 2008, 77, 042311 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.77.042311
[10]	Lütkenhaus N, Jahma M. Quantum key distribution with realistic states: Photon-number statistics in the photon-number splitting attack. New J Phys, 2002, 4, 44 doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/4/1/344
[11]	Scarani V, Bechmann-Pasquinucci H, Cerf N J, et al. The security of practical quantum key distribution. Rev Mod Phys, 2009, 81, 1301 doi: 10.1103/RevModPhys.81.1301
[12]	Grünenfelder F, Boaron A, Rusca D, et al. Performance and security of 5 GHz repetition rate polarization-based quantum key distribution. Appl Phys Lett, 2020, 117, 144003 doi: 10.1063/5.0021468
[13]	Nakata K, Tomita A, Fujiwara M, et al. Intensity fluctuation of a gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution systems. Opt Express, 2017, 25, 622 doi: 10.1364/OE.25.000622
[14]	Gao Y F, Yuan Z L. Suppression of patterning effect using IQ modulator for high-speed quantum key distribution systems. Opt Lett, 2023, 48, 1068 doi: 10.1364/OL.481374
[15]	Kobayashi T, Tomita A, Okamoto A. Evaluation of the phase randomness of a light source in quantum-key-distribution systems with an attenuated laser. Phys Rev A, 2014, 90, 032320 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.90.032320
[16]	Lo H K, Preskill J. Security of quantum key distribution using weak coherent states with nonrandom phases. Quantum Inf Comput, 2007, 7, 431 doi: 10.26421/QIC7.5-6-2
[17]	Yuan Z L, Lucamarini M, Dynes J F, et al. Robust random number generation using steady-state emission of gain-switched laser diodes. Appl Phys Lett, 2014, 104, 261112 doi: 10.1063/1.4886761
[18]	Shakhovoy R, Puplauskis M, Sharoglazova V, et al. Phase randomness in a semiconductor laser: Issue of quantum random-number generation. Phys Rev A, 2023, 107, 012616 doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.107.012616
[19]	Dynes J F, Yuan Z L, Sharpe A W, et al. Probing higher order correlations of the photon field with photon number resolving avalanche photodiodes. Opt Express, 2011, 19, 13268 doi: 10.1364/OE.19.013268

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History

Received: 27 September 2024 Revised: 09 December 2024 Online: Accepted Manuscript: 09 January 2025Uncorrected proof: 18 February 2025

Article Navigation > Journal of Semiconductors > 2025 > Uncorrected proof

Yuanfei Gao, Tao Wang, Yixin Wang, Zhiliang Yuan. Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2025, In Press. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/24090052 ****Y F Gao, T Wang, Y X Wang, and Z L Yuan, Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution[J]. J. Semicond., 2025, 46(6), 062101 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/24090052

Citation:

Yuanfei Gao, Tao Wang, Yixin Wang, Zhiliang Yuan. Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution[J]. Journal of Semiconductors, 2025, In Press. doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/24090052 ****

Y F Gao, T Wang, Y X Wang, and Z L Yuan, Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution[J]. J. Semicond., 2025, 46(6), 062101 doi: 10.1088/1674-4926/24090052

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Intensity correlation distribution in gain-switched semiconductor laser for quantum key distribution

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4926/24090052

CSTR: 32376.14.1674-4926.24090052

1.
Beĳing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Beĳing 100193, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, Beĳing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beĳing 100876, China

More Information

Yuanfei Gao received a bachelor's degree and a Ph.D. in optics from Zhengzhou University in China in 2013 and 2019. Then he works as an assistant research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences in China. His research interest is on light−matter interactions and quantum optics
Corresponding author: gaoyf@baqis.ac.cn
Received Date: 2024-09-27
Revised Date: 2024-12-09

Available Online: 2025-01-09

Abstract

Abstract

In the implementation of quantum key distribution, Security certification is a prerequisite for social deployment. Transmitters in decoy-BB84 systems typically employ gain-switched semiconductor lasers (GSSLs) to generate optical pulses for encoding quantum information. However, the working state of the laser may violate the assumption of pulse independence. Here, we explored the dependence of intensity fluctuation and high-order correlation distribution of optical pulses on driving currents at 2.5 GHz. We found the intensity correlation distribution had a significant dependence on the driving currents, which would affect the final key rate. By utilizing rate equations in our simulation, we confirmed the fluctuation and correlation originated from the instability of gain-switched laser driven at a GHz-repetitive frequency. Finally, we evaluated the impact of intensity fluctuation on the secure key rate. This work will provide valuable insights for assessing whether the transmitter is operating at optimal state in practice.
- intensity correlation,
- gain-switched laser,
- quantum key distribution

Supplementary materials to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4926/24090052.

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