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Main Authors: Sun, Yanhao, Ma, Jiayu, Wang, Xiangyu, Yu, Song, Chen, Ziyang, Guo, Hong
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.19348
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_version_ 1866910002036342784
author Sun, Yanhao
Ma, Jiayu
Wang, Xiangyu
Yu, Song
Chen, Ziyang
Guo, Hong
author_facet Sun, Yanhao
Ma, Jiayu
Wang, Xiangyu
Yu, Song
Chen, Ziyang
Guo, Hong
contents Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) enables information-theoretically secure key generation between legitimate parties. To further enhance system performance, an improved two-way CV-QKD protocol has been proposed, which is accessible in practice and exhibits increased robustness against excess noise. However, in practical implementations, device nonidealities inevitably drive the optical field from the single-mode regime into the continuous-mode regime. In this work, we introduce temporal modes to characterize the evolution of optical fields in the improved two-way protocol and establish a security analysis framework for the continuous-mode scenario based on adaptive normalization with calibrated shot-noise unit. In addition, finite-size effects are taken into account in the analysis. Our results demonstrate that the improved two-way protocol retains a performance advantage over one-way counterpart. The analysis provides useful guidance for the practical implementation and performance optimization of improved two-way CV-QKD systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_19348
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Continuous-mode analysis of improved two-way CV-QKD
Sun, Yanhao
Ma, Jiayu
Wang, Xiangyu
Yu, Song
Chen, Ziyang
Guo, Hong
Quantum Physics
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) enables information-theoretically secure key generation between legitimate parties. To further enhance system performance, an improved two-way CV-QKD protocol has been proposed, which is accessible in practice and exhibits increased robustness against excess noise. However, in practical implementations, device nonidealities inevitably drive the optical field from the single-mode regime into the continuous-mode regime. In this work, we introduce temporal modes to characterize the evolution of optical fields in the improved two-way protocol and establish a security analysis framework for the continuous-mode scenario based on adaptive normalization with calibrated shot-noise unit. In addition, finite-size effects are taken into account in the analysis. Our results demonstrate that the improved two-way protocol retains a performance advantage over one-way counterpart. The analysis provides useful guidance for the practical implementation and performance optimization of improved two-way CV-QKD systems.
title Continuous-mode analysis of improved two-way CV-QKD
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.19348