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Limitations on quantum key repeaters

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Bäuml

    (University of Bristol
    Fisica Teòrica: Informació i Fenòmens Quàntics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

  • Matthias Christandl

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Karol Horodecki

    (Institute of Informatics, University of Gdańsk
    National Quantum Information Centre of Gdańsk)

  • Andreas Winter

    (University of Bristol
    Fisica Teòrica: Informació i Fenòmens Quàntics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
    ICREA—Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats)

Abstract

A major application of quantum communication is the distribution of entangled particles for use in quantum key distribution. Owing to noise in the communication line, quantum key distribution is, in practice, limited to a distance of a few hundred kilometres, and can only be extended to longer distances by use of a quantum repeater, a device that performs entanglement distillation and quantum teleportation. The existence of noisy entangled states that are undistillable but nevertheless useful for quantum key distribution raises the question of the feasibility of a quantum key repeater, which would work beyond the limits of entanglement distillation, hence possibly tolerating higher noise levels than existing protocols. Here we exhibit fundamental limits on such a device in the form of bounds on the rate at which it may extract secure key. As a consequence, we give examples of states suitable for quantum key distribution but unsuitable for the most general quantum key repeater protocol.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Bäuml & Matthias Christandl & Karol Horodecki & Andreas Winter, 2015. "Limitations on quantum key repeaters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7908
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7908
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