Optical-pumping attack on a quantum key distribution laser source

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.11239v1
• Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:44:40 GMT
• Title: Optical-pumping attack on a quantum key distribution laser source
• Abstract summary: We show that it is possible to increase the pulse energy of a source laser diode not only by injection-locking it by external light.<n>We demonstrate 10% increase in pulse energy when exposing the laser diode to 1310-nm, 1.6-mW cw laser light via its fiber pigtail.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: We report a new type of vulnerability in practical implementations of quantum key distribution systems. We show that it is possible to increase the pulse energy of a source laser diode not only by injection-locking it by external light near its emission wavelength of 1550 nm, but also by optically pumping it at a much shorter wavelength. We demonstrate 10% increase in pulse energy when exposing the laser diode to 1310-nm, 1.6-mW cw laser light via its fiber pigtail. This may allow an eavesdropper to steal the secret key. A possible countermeasure is to install broadband optical filters and isolators at the source's output and characterise them during the security certification.

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