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Author Lydersen, Lars; Wiechers, Carlos; Wittmann, Christoffer; Elser, Dominique; Skaar, Johannes; Makarov, Vadim
Title Hacking commercial quantum cryptography systems by tailored bright illumination Type Journal Article
Year 2010 Publication Nature Photonics Abbreviated Journal Nat. Photon.
Volume 4 Issue 10 Pages 686 - 689
Keywords quantum cryptography, hacking, QKD, APD
Abstract The peculiar properties of quantum mechanics allow two remote parties to communicate a private, secret key, which is protected from eavesdropping by the laws of physics. So-called quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations always rely on detectors to measure the relevant quantum property of single photons. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the detectors in two commercially available QKD systems can be fully remote-controlled using specially tailored bright illumination. This makes it possible to tracelessly acquire the full secret key; we propose an eavesdropping apparatus built of off-the-shelf components. The loophole is likely to be present in most QKD systems using avalanche photodiodes to detect single photons. We believe that our findings are crucial for strengthening the security of practical QKD, by identifying and patching technological deficiencies.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 657
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Author Marsili, Francesco; Najafi, Faraz; Herder, Charles; Berggren, Karl K.
Title Electrothermal simulation of superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 98 Issue 9 Pages 3
Keywords SNAP
Abstract We developed an electrothermal model of NbN superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors (SNAPs) on sapphire substrates. SNAPs are single-photon detectors consisting of the parallel connection of N superconducting nanowires. We extrapolated the physical constants of the model from experimental data and we simulated the time evolution of the device resistance, temperature and current by solving two coupled electrical and thermal differential equations describing the nanowires. The predictions of the model were in good quantitative agreement with the experimental results.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 658
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Author Marsili, Francesco; Najafi, Faraz; Dauler, Eric; Bellei, Francesco; Hu, Xiaolong; Csete, Maria; Molnar, Richard J.; Berggren, Karl K.
Title Single-photon detectors based on ultranarrow superconducting nanowires Type Journal Article
Year 2011 Publication Nano Letters Abbreviated Journal Nano Lett.
Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 2048–2053
Keywords SNSPD
Abstract We report efficient single-photon detection (η = 20% at 1550 nm wavelength) with ultranarrow (20 and 30 nm wide) superconducting nanowires, which were shown to be more robust to constrictions and more responsive to 1550 nm wavelength photons than standard superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, based on 90 nm wide nanowires. We also improved our understanding of the physics of superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors, which we used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of ultranarrow-nanowire detectors by a factor of 4, thus relaxing the requirements on the read-out circuitry and making the devices suitable for a broader range of applications.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 659
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Author de Lange, Gert; Krieg, Jean-Michel; Honingh, Netty; Karpov, Alexandre; Cherednichenko, Sergey
Title Performance of the HIFI flight mixers Type Conference Article
Year 2008 Publication Proc. 19th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 98-105
Keywords HEB mixer applications, HEB applications
Abstract We summarize the technology and final results of the superconducting heterodyne SIS and HEB mixers that are developed for the HIFI instrument. Within HIFI 7 frequency bands cover the frequency range from 480 GHz to 1910 GHz. We describe the different device technologies and optical coupling schemes that are used to cover the frequency bands. The efforts of the different mixer teams that participate in HIFI have contributed to an instrument that will have unprecedented sensitivity and frequency coverage.
Address Groningen
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Call Number Serial 1074
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Author Beck, M.; Klammer, M.; Lang, S.; Leiderer, P.; Kabanov, V. V.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Demsar, J.
Title Energy-gap dynamics of superconducting NbN thin films studied by time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy Type Miscellaneous
Year 2011 Publication arXiv Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords NbN thin film, energy gap dynamics
Abstract Using time-domain Terahertz spectroscopy we performed direct studies of the photoinduced suppression and recovery of the superconducting gap in a conventional BCS superconductor NbN. Both processes are found to be strongly temperature and excitation density dependent. The analysis of the data with the established phenomenological Rothwarf-Taylor model enabled us to determine the bare quasiparticle recombination rate, the Cooper pair-breaking rate and the electron-phonon coupling constant, \lambda = 1.1 +/- 0.1, which is in excellent agreement with theoretical estimates.
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Notes Duplicated as 641 Approved no
Call Number Serial 1388
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