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International conference on fiber optics and photonics

Quantum Key Distribution Using 8-ary PSK Modulation and Coherent Detection

Neha Goswami, Pradeep Kumar Krishnamurthy

Published Jan 1, 2014• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe a QKD protocol using 8-ary phase-encoding of single-photons and coherent detection that allows exchange of two key bits/photon. An average QBER of 43.75% for intercept/resend attack makes the scheme robust and secure.
DOI
10.1364/photonics.2014.s5a.84

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As quantum computing threatens classical cryptography like RSA via Shor's algorithm, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)—especially BB84—offers physics-based security. BB84 leverages quantum principles: Heisenberg Uncertainty, No-Cloning Theorem, and superposition, shifting from math complexity to unbreakable physical laws using polarized photons for key exchange. The protocol detects eavesdropping through Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER), showing 25% errors in Intercept-Resend attacks. Key challenges like Photon Number Splitting (PNS) attacks are addressed via decoy states. Compared to B92 and E91, BB84 balances feasibility and security best. Despite issues like signal loss, BB84 provides provably secure communication, restoring trust in a post-quantum world.
We propose a secure quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol using a single not-so-weak coherent qubit. With two preprocesses for random rotation and compensation, a key bit is encoded to a randomly polarized not-so-weak coherent qubit. We analyze the security of the QKD protocol, which counters the photon number splitting and the impersonation attacks. The estimated mean number of photon, which is less than 6.0, guarantees security. Additionally, we discuss the possibility of quantum secure direct communication.
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Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) consists in the exchange of a secrete key between two distant points [1]. Even if quantum key distribution systems exist and commercial systems are reaching the market [2], there are still improvements to be made: simplify the construction of the system; increase the secret key rate. To this end, we present a new protocol for QKD tailored to work with weak coherent pulses and at high bit rates [3]. The advantages of this system are that the setup is experimentally simple and it is tolerant to reduced interference visibility and to photon number splitting attacks, thus resulting in a high efficiency in terms of distilled secret bits per qubit. After having successfully tested the feasibility of the system [3], we are currently developing a fully integrated and automated prototype within the SECOQC project [4]. We present the latest results using the prototype. We also discuss the issue of the photon detection, which still remains the bottleneck for QKD.
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