Universally-composable finite-key analysis for efficient four-intensity decoy-state quantum key distribution

Abstract

We propose an efficient four-intensity decoy-state BB84 protocol and derive concise security bounds for this protocol with the universally composable finite-key analysis method. Comparing with the efficient three-intensity protocol, we find that our efficient four-intensity protocol can increase the secret key rate by at least $30\%$. Particularly, this increasing rate of secret key rate will be raised as the transmission distance increases. At a large transmission distance, our efficient four-intensity protocol can improve the performance of quantum key distribution profoundly.