Experimental implementation of distributed phase reference quantum key distribution protocols.

Recently, an appreciable number of protocols for quantum key distribution (QKD) have been experimentally realized as they are expected to be unconditionally secure. Among these QKD protocols, two protocols of distributed phase reference type [namely, coherent one way (COW) and differential phase shift (DPS) QKD protocols] have undergone rapid experimental developments due to the ease of implementation with the presently available technology. In this work, we have experimentally realized optical fibre based COW and DPS protocols for QKD where weak coherent pulses are used to encode the information. Further, we have analysed the key rates with respect to different parameters such as distance, disclose rate, compression ratio and detector dead time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]