Realization of an untrusted intermediate relay architecture using a quantum dot single-photon source
Abstract
To fully exploit the potential of quantum technologies, quantum networks are needed to link different systems, significantly enhancing applications in computing, cryptography, and metrology. Central to these networks are quantum relays that can facilitate long-distance entanglement distribution and quantum communication. In this work, we present a modular and scalable quantum relay architecture using a high-quality single-photon source. The proposed network incorporates three untrusted intermediate nodes and is capable of a repetition rate of 304.52 MHz. We use a measurement-device-independent protocol to demonstrate secure key establishment over fibers covering up to 300 kilometers. This study highlights the potential of single-photon sources in quantum relays to enhance information transmission, expand network coverage, and improve deployment flexibility, with promising applications in future quantum networks.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2508.21479,
title = {Realization of an untrusted intermediate relay architecture using a quantum dot single-photon source},
author = {Mi Zou and Yu-Ming He and Yizhi Huang and Jun-Yi Zhao and Bin-Chen Li and Yong-Peng Guo and Xing Ding and Mo-Chi Xu and Run-Ze Liu and Geng-Yan Zou and Zhen Ning and Xiang You and Hui Wang and Wen-Xin Pan and Hao-Tao Zhu and Ming-Yang Zheng and Xiu-Ping Xie and Dandan Qin and Xiao Jiang and Yong-Heng Huo and Qiang Zhang and Chao-Yang Lu and Xiongfeng Ma and Teng-Yun Chen and Jian-Wei Pan},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.21479},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
29 pages,17 figures, 2 tables