We discuss several methods for unambiguous state discrimination of N symmetric coherent states using linear optics and photodetectors. One type of measurement is shown to be optimal in the limit of small photon numbers for any N. For the special case of $N=4\mathrm{}$ this measurement can be fruitfully used by the receiving end (Bob) in an implementation of the Bennett-Brassard 1984 (BB84) quantum key distribution protocol using faint laser pulses. In particular, if Bob detects only a single photon the procedure is equivalent to the standard measurement that he would have to perform in a single-photon implementation of BB84, if he detects two photons Bob will unambiguously know the bit sent to him in 50% of the cases without having to exchange basis information, and if three photons are detected, Bob will know unambiguously which quantum state was sent.

• Received 12 December 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.66.042313