Frequency-matching quantum key distribution

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2512.05496v1
• Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2025 07:44:38 GMT
• Title: Frequency-matching quantum key distribution
• Authors: Hao-Tao Zhu, Yizhi Huang, Abdullah Rasmita, Chao Ding, Xiangbin Cai, Haoran Zhang, Xiongfeng Ma, Weibo Gao,
• Abstract summary: Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables information-theoretically secure communication against eavesdropping.<n>Phase instability remains a challenge across many QKD applications.<n>We propose a method to address this issue by employing a classical photodiode to compensate for the laser frequency difference.
• Score: 10.310957850024831
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables information-theoretically secure communication against eavesdropping. However, phase instability remains a challenge across many QKD applications, particularly in schemes such as twin-field QKD and measurement-device-independent QKD. The most dominant source of phase fluctuation arises from the frequency offset between independent lasers. Here we propose a method to address this issue by employing a classical photodiode to compensate for the laser frequency difference. As an application of this method, we implement this technique in a mode-pairing QKD system, achieving an error rate approaching the theoretical limit and surpassing the linear key-rate bound over a fiber distance of 296.8 km. This approach provides a practical solution for frequency matching between independent lasers and can be extended to other fields requiring precise phase stabilization.

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