Konstantin Zaitsev

We report recent advances in the development of certification for quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. We give an example of a commercial QKD system that we have analysed for possible loopholes, improved to close the vulnerabilities identified, and designed a set of tests for that can be used by a certification lab [arXiv:2310.20107]. We explain some of the testbenches in this lab, such as an ultrawide spectral characterisation testbench, automated detector testing, and laser damage testbench that verifies the quality of a power limiter. This work is in line with the requirements of the ISO standard for QKD and paves the way for the creation of certification services.

Quantum attacks to single-photon detectors with bright-light are known for more than a decade. Many countermeasures were suggested to protect detectors, but the most of them can close some attacks with given parameters but not a whole attack group. To solve the problem we are developing automated testbench that emulates attacks by an eavesdropper Eve. It combines emission of pulse laser and continuous-wave laser and observes detector's response. In future we hope to automatically prepare reports on detectors' safety or show bright-light attacks that were not covered by detectors' countermeasures.