The value of residual phase noise, after phase compensation, is one of the key limitations of performance improvement for continuous-variable quantum key distribution using a local local oscillator (LLO CV-QKD) system, since it is the major excess noise. However, due to the nonideality of the realistic devices implemented in practice, for example, imperfect lasers, detectors, and unbalanced interferometers, the value of residual phase noise in the current system is still relatively large. Here, we develop a phase noise model to improve the phase noise tolerance of the LLO CV-QKD schemes. In our model, part of the phase-reference measurement noise associated with detection efficiency and electronic noise of Bob's detector as well as a real-time monitored phase-reference intensity at Bob's side is considered trusted because it can be locally calibrated by Bob. We show that using our phase noise model can significantly improve the secure key rate and transmission distance of the LLO CV-QKD system. We further conduct an experiment to substantiate the superiority of the phase noise model. Based on experimental data of a LLO CV-QKD system in the 25-km optical fiber channel, we demonstrate that the secure key rate under our phase noise model is approximately 40% higher than that under the conventional phase noise model.

In practical continuous-variable quantum key distribution system using local local oscillator (LLO CV-QKD), the phase noise related to coherent detection and phase-reference pulse intensity can be locally calibrated at the receiver side. Therefore, it can be regarded as trusted noise in order to obtain a higher secret key rate and transmission distance. However, security loopholes will be opened for the eavesdropper to launch attacks without appropriate countermeasures. To this end, we propose two practical phase-reference pulse intensity attack strategies, where Eve can reduce the trusted phase noise by manipulating the intensity of the phase-reference pulse, thereby hiding her attack on the signal pulse. The performance of the LLO CV-QKD system under these attacks has been analyzed. We show that precisely monitoring the intensity of the phase-reference pulse in real time is an essential countermeasure to prevent the proposed attacks. Moreover, an intensity-monitoring scheme for the phase-reference pulse is proposed to strengthen the security of the practical LLO CV-QKD system and make the trusted phase noise model more robust.

To reduce the influence of random channel polarization variation, especially fast polarization perturbation, for continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) systems, a simple and fast polarization tracking algorithm is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The algorithm is implemented by an orthogonal pilot tone scheme, one of the pilot tones is used for estimating the polarization rotation angle, and the other one is used for compensating the polarization perturbation introduced phase noise. Meanwhile, residual effects are compensated precisely with the help of a real-valued FIR filter. In this case, the excess noise introduced by polarization perturbation is effectively suppressed. Experimental results show that the polarization scrambling rate ≥12.57 krad/s can be tracked by using the proposed algorithm, and a good estimated parameters performance is achieved. Compared to conventional polarization tracking algorithms such as the constant modulus algorithm (CMA), experimental results show that the polarization tracking capability of the proposed algorithm is significantly improved. Furthermore, much faster polarization tracking performance is evaluated by digital simulations, and the simulation results show that about 188.50 Mrad/s can be tracked by the proposed algorithm. Thus, our method provides effective technology for the practical application of fiber-based CV-QKD.

Two-way fiber-optic time transfer (TWFTT) is a promising precise time synchronization technique with sub-nanosecond stability. However, the asymmetric delay attack is a severe threat, which can deteriorate the performance of the TWFTT system. In this paper, a clock model-based scheme is used to defend the sub-nanosecond asymmetric delay attack. For the scheme, a security threshold is set according to a two-state clock model, and the estimated frequency difference is excluded from the measured time difference to detect the sub-nanosecond asymmetric delay attack. Systematic detection and mitigation scheme for asymmetric delay attack is developed in this paper. Theoretical simulation and experimental demonstration are implemented to explore the feasibility of the method. A TWFTT system of time stability with 24.5 ps, 3.98 ps, and 2.95 ps at average time 1 s, 10 s, and 100 s is shown under sub-nanosecond asymmetric time delay attack experimentally for the first time. The proposed method provides a promising secure sub-nanosecond precise time synchronization technique against asymmetric delay attacks.

The estimation of phase noise of continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol with a local local oscillator (LLO CVQKD), as a major process in quantifying the secret key rate, is closely relevant to the intensity of the phase reference. However, the transmission of the phase reference through the insecure quantum channel is prone to be exploited by the eavesdropper (Eve) to mount attacks. Here, we introduce a polarization attack scheme against the phase reference. Presently, in a practical LLO CVQKD system, only part of the phase reference pulses are measured to compensate for the polarization drift of the quantum signal pulses in a compensation cycle due to the limited polarization measurement rate, while the other part of the phase reference pulses are not measured. We show that Eve can control the phase noise by manipulating the polarization direction of the unmeasured phase reference to hide her attack on the quantum signal. Simulations show that Eve can obtain partial or total key rates information shared between Alice and Bob as the transmission distance increases. Improving the polarization measurement rate to 100% or monitoring the phase reference intensity in real-time is of great importance to protect the LLO CVQKD from polarization attack.

We measure the wavelength-dependent correlated-electron momentum (CEM) spectra of strong-field double ionization of Xe atoms, and observe a significant change from a roughly nonstructured (uncorrelated) pattern at 795 nm to an elongated distribution with V-shaped structure (correlated) at higher wavelengths of 1320 nm and 1810 nm, pointing to the transition of the ionization dynamics imprinted in the momentum distributions. These observations are well reproduced by a semiclassical model using Green-Sellin-Zachor (GSZ) potential to take into account the screening effect. We show that the momentum distribution of Xe2+ undergoes a bifurcation structure emerging from single-hump to double-hump structure as the laser wavelength increases, which is dramatically different from that of He2+, indicating the complex multi-electron effect. By back analyzing the double ionization trajectories in the phase space (the initial transverse momentum and the laser phase at the tunnelling exit) of the first tunneled electrons, we provide deep insight into the physical origin for electron correlation dynamics. We find that a random distribution in phase-space is responsible for a less distinct structured CEM spectrum at shorter wavelength. While increasing the laser wavelength, a topology-invariant pattern in phase-space appears, leading to the clearly visible V-shaped structures.