Quantum key distribution provides secure keys resistant to code-breaking quantum computers. The continuous-variable version of quantum key distribution offers the advantages of higher secret key rates in metropolitan areas, as well as the use of standard telecom components that can operate at room temperature. However, the transmission distance of these systems (compared with discrete-variable systems) are currently limited and considered unsuitable for long-distance distribution. Herein, we report the experimental results of long distance continuous-variable quantum key distribution over 202.81 km of ultralow-loss optical fiber by suitably controlling the excess noise and employing highly efficient reconciliation procedures. This record-breaking implementation of the continuous-variable quantum key distribution doubles the previous distance record and shows the road for long-distance and large-scale secure quantum key distribution using room-temperature standard telecom components.

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) offers the specific advantage of sharing keys remotely by the use of standard telecom components, thereby promoting cost-effective and high-performance metropolitan applications. Nevertheless, the introduction of high-rate spectrum broadening has pushed CVQKD from a single-mode to a continuous-mode region, resulting in the adoption of modern digital signal processing (DSP) technologies to recover quadrature information from continuous-mode quantum states. However, the security proof of DSP involving multi-point processing is a missing step. Here, we propose a generalized method of analyzing continuous-mode state processing by linear DSP via temporal modes theory. The construction of temporal modes is key in reducing the security proof to single-mode scenarios. The proposed practicality oriented security analysis method paves the way for building classical compatible digital CVQKD.

As a fundamental phenomenon in nature, randomness has a wide range of applications in the fields of science and engineering. Among different types of random number generators (RNG), quantum random number generator (QRNG) is a kind of promising RNG as it can provide provable true random numbers based on the inherent randomness of fundamental quantum processes. Nevertheless, the randomness from a QRNG can be diminished (or even destroyed) if the devices (especially the entropy source devices) are not perfect or ill-characterized. To eliminate the practical security loopholes from the source, source-independent QRNGs, which allow the source to have arbitrary and unknown dimensions, have been introduced and become one of the most important semi-device-independent (DI) QRNGs. Herein a method that enables ultra-fast unpredictable quantum random number generation from quadrature fluctuations of quantum optical field without any assumptions on the input states is proposed. Particularly, to estimate a lower bound on the extractable randomness that is independent from side information held by an eavesdropper, a new security analysis framework is established based on the extremality of Gaussian states, which can be easily extended to design and analyze new semi-DI continuous variable QRNG protocols. Moreover, the practical imperfections of the QRNG including the effects of excess noise, finite sampling range, finite resolution and asymmetric conjugate quadratures are taken into account and quantitatively analyzed. Finally, the proposed method is experimentally demonstrated to obtain high secure random number generation rates of 15.07 Gbits s ⁻¹ in off-line configuration and can potentially achieve 6 Gbits s ⁻¹ by real-time post-processing.

Quantum key distribution (QKD), which enables the secure distribution of symmetric keys between two legitimate parties, is highly useful in future network security. An access network that connects multiple end users with one network backbone can be combined with QKD to build security for end users in a scalable and cost-effective way. In this paper, we show that a downstream-access network can be implemented using continuous-variable (CV) QKD. The security analysis is conducted independently with other network nodes, which greatly relax the trustfulness requirement on the network nodes. The security is then obtained against other network parties even when the quantum signals are broadcast throughout the network. The passive beam splitter is sufficient to deterministically distribute the quantum signals, and standard CV QKD systems can be directly fitted in the downstream-access network, which makes it more applicable for practical implementations. Numerous simulation results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the CV QKD downstream-access network, where up to 64 end users are shown to be feasible to access the network. We provide the security-analysis framework for realizing CV QKD in the downstream-access network, which will boost the diversity for constructing practical CV QKD networks.

Continuous variable quantum key distribution that can be implemented using only low-cost and off-the-shelf components reveals great potential in practical large-scale realization. Access networks, as a modern network necessity, connect many end-users to the network backbone. In this work, we first demonstrate upstream transmission quantum access networks using continuous variable quantum key distribution. A two-end-user quantum access network is then experimentally realized. Through phase compensation, data synchronization, and other technical upgrades, we achieve a secret key rate of the total network of 390 kbits/s. In addition, we extend the case of a two-end-user quantum access network to the case of a multiplicity of users, and analyze the network capacity in the case of a multiplicity of users by measuring the additive excess noise from different time slots.