Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

LDPC error correction in the context of quantum key distribution

Anastase Nakassis, Alan Mink

Published May 1, 2012• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Secret keys can be established through the use of a Quantum channel monitored through classical channel which can be thought of as being error free. The quantum channel is subject to massive erasures and discards of erroneously measured bit values and as a result the error correction mechanism to be used must be accordingly modified. This paper addresses the impact of error correction (known as Reconciliation) on the secrecy of the retained bits and issues concerning the efficient software implementation of the Low Density Parity Check algorithm in the Quantum Key Distribution environment. The performance of three algorithmic variants are measured through implementations and the collected sample data suggest that the implementation details are particularly important

DOI
10.1117/12.919117

Related papers

LDPC for QKD Reconciliation

Alan Mink, Anastase Nakassis

We present the Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) forward error correction algorithm adapted for the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol in a form readily applied by developers. A sparse parity check matrix is required for the LDPC algorithm and we suggest using some that have been defined by the IEEE and ETSI standards organizations for use in various communication protocols. We evaluate the QKD performance of these various parity check matrices as a function of the quantum bit error rate. We also discuss the computational precision required for this LPDC algorithm. As QKD evolves towards deployment, complete algorithm descriptions and performance analysis, as we present, will be required.

arXiv:1205.4977•May 22, 2012•14 citations

Optimal Low Density Parity Check Matrices to Correct Quantum Key Errors for QKD

Bohdan Bilash

In this paper, the parity-check matrices that can be used in low density parity check (LDPC) based error correction method for quantum key distribution are analyzed. The quantum key distribution system has inevitable errors in sifted key that must be corrected by an error correction algorithm to create a secure key. In this analysis, 1000-bit sifted keys are divided into 50 parts. The algorithm creates 50 syndromes corresponding to each part by multiplying 10 × 20 bit parity-check matrices. The algorithm sends the generated syndrome to the other side, which also divides the sifted key into 50 parts, creates a syndrome from each part, and compares with the received syndrome. If the syndromes are different, these sifted key parts are discarded. However, there may be situations where different parts may have the same syndromes. Therefore, it is necessary to find such an optimal matrix that removes the probability of getting the same syndromes at different parts of the sifted key.

Microsystems Electronics and Acoustics•Jul 6, 2020•0 citations

Adaptive algorithms of error correction and error estimation in quantum cryptography

Asel Sagingalieva, Dmitry Anatolevich Kronberg

Quantum cryptography provides methods for secret key distribution between the two distant users. An important step in quantum key distribution protocols is the correction of errors that occur during the transmission and implementation of the protocol. Here we consider error estimation and error correction with linear codes such as repetition code, Hamming code, low density parity check (LDPC) code. The paper investigates the increase in the efficiency of error correction using a combination of a repetition code and a LDPC code for a high error probability.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2021•1 citation

Information Reconciliation for Quantum Key Distribution

David Elkouss, Jesús Martínez-Mateo, Vicente Martín Ayuso +1 more

Quantum key distribution (QKD) relies on quantum and classical procedures in order to achieve the growing of a secret random string -the key- known only to the two parties executing the protocol. Limited intrinsic efficiency of the protocol, imperfect devices and eavesdropping produce errors and information leakage from which the set of measured signals -the raw key- must be stripped in order to distill a final, information theoretically secure, key. The key distillation process is a classical one in which basis reconciliation, error correction and privacy amplification protocols are applied to the raw key. This cleaning process is known as information reconciliation and must be done in a fast and efficient way to avoid cramping the performance of the QKD system. Brassard and Salvail proposed a very simple and elegant protocol to reconcile keys in the secret-key agreement context, known as Cascade, that has become the de-facto standard for all QKD practical implementations. However, it is highly interactive, requiring many communications between the legitimate parties and its efficiency is not optimal, imposing an early limit to the maximum tolerable error rate. In this paper we describe a low-density parity-check reconciliation protocol that improves significantly on these problems. The protocol exhibits better efficiency and limits the number of uses of the communications channel. It is also able to adapt to different error rates while remaining efficient, thus reaching longer distances or higher secure key rate for a given QKD system.

•Oct 1, 2010•31 citations

High-Efficient Syndrome-Based LDPC Reconciliation for Quantum Key Distribution

Haokun Mao, Yucheng Qiao, Qiong Li

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a promising technique to share unconditionally secure keys between remote parties. As an essential part of a practical QKD system, reconciliation is responsible for correcting the errors due to the quantum channel noise by exchanging information through a public classical channel. In the present work, we propose a novel syndrome-based low-density parity-check (LDPC) reconciliation protocol to reduce the information leakage of reconciliation by fully utilizing the syndrome information that was previously wasted. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our protocol can evidently reduce the information leakage as well as the number of communication rounds.

Entropy•Oct 31, 2021•17 citations

Information Reconciliation for Quantum Key Distribution

David Elkouss, Jesús Martínez-Mateo, Vicente Martín

Quantum key distribution (QKD) relies on quantum and classical procedures in order to achieve the growing of a secret random string -the key- known only to the two parties executing the protocol. Limited intrinsic efficiency of the protocol, imperfect devices and eavesdropping produce errors and information leakage from which the set of measured signals -the raw key- must be stripped in order to distill a final, information theoretically secure, key. The key distillation process is a classical one in which basis reconciliation, error correction and privacy amplification protocols are applied to the raw key. This cleaning process is known as information reconciliation and must be done in a fast and efficient way to avoid cramping the performance of the QKD system. Brassard and Salvail proposed a very simple and elegant protocol to reconcile keys in the secret-key agreement context, known as Cascade, that has become the de-facto standard for all QKD practical implementations. However, it is highly interactive, requiring many communications between the legitimate parties and its efficiency is not optimal, imposing an early limit to the maximum tolerable error rate. In this paper we describe a low-density parity-check reconciliation protocol that improves significantly on these problems. The protocol exhibits better efficiency and limits the number of uses of the communications channel. It is also able to adapt to different error rates while remaining efficient, thus reaching longer distances or higher secure key rate for a given QKD system.

arXiv:1007.1616•Jul 9, 2010•5 citations
Secret keys can be established through the use of a Quantum channel monitored through classical channel which can be thought of as being error free. The quantum channel is subject to massive erasures and discards of erroneously measured bit values and as a result the error correction mechanism to be used must be accordingly modified. This paper addresses the impact of error correction (known as Reconciliation) on the secrecy of the retained bits and issues concerning the efficient software implementation of the Low Density Parity Check algorithm in the Quantum Key Distribution environment. The performance of three algorithmic variants are measured through implementations and the collected sample data suggest that the implementation details are particularly important
We present the Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) forward error correction algorithm adapted for the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol in a form readily applied by developers. A sparse parity check matrix is required for the LDPC algorithm and we suggest using some that have been defined by the IEEE and ETSI standards organizations for use in various communication protocols. We evaluate the QKD performance of these various parity check matrices as a function of the quantum bit error rate. We also discuss the computational precision required for this LPDC algorithm. As QKD evolves towards deployment, complete algorithm descriptions and performance analysis, as we present, will be required.
In this paper, the parity-check matrices that can be used in low density parity check (LDPC) based error correction method for quantum key distribution are analyzed. The quantum key distribution system has inevitable errors in sifted key that must be corrected by an error correction algorithm to create a secure key. In this analysis, 1000-bit sifted keys are divided into 50 parts. The algorithm creates 50 syndromes corresponding to each part by multiplying 10 × 20 bit parity-check matrices. The algorithm sends the generated syndrome to the other side, which also divides the sifted key into 50 parts, creates a syndrome from each part, and compares with the received syndrome. If the syndromes are different, these sifted key parts are discarded. However, there may be situations where different parts may have the same syndromes. Therefore, it is necessary to find such an optimal matrix that removes the probability of getting the same syndromes at different parts of the sifted key.
Quantum cryptography provides methods for secret key distribution between the two distant users. An important step in quantum key distribution protocols is the correction of errors that occur during the transmission and implementation of the protocol. Here we consider error estimation and error correction with linear codes such as repetition code, Hamming code, low density parity check (LDPC) code. The paper investigates the increase in the efficiency of error correction using a combination of a repetition code and a LDPC code for a high error probability.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) relies on quantum and classical procedures in order to achieve the growing of a secret random string -the key- known only to the two parties executing the protocol. Limited intrinsic efficiency of the protocol, imperfect devices and eavesdropping produce errors and information leakage from which the set of measured signals -the raw key- must be stripped in order to distill a final, information theoretically secure, key. The key distillation process is a classical one in which basis reconciliation, error correction and privacy amplification protocols are applied to the raw key. This cleaning process is known as information reconciliation and must be done in a fast and efficient way to avoid cramping the performance of the QKD system. Brassard and Salvail proposed a very simple and elegant protocol to reconcile keys in the secret-key agreement context, known as Cascade, that has become the de-facto standard for all QKD practical implementations. However, it is highly interactive, requiring many communications between the legitimate parties and its efficiency is not optimal, imposing an early limit to the maximum tolerable error rate. In this paper we describe a low-density parity-check reconciliation protocol that improves significantly on these problems. The protocol exhibits better efficiency and limits the number of uses of the communications channel. It is also able to adapt to different error rates while remaining efficient, thus reaching longer distances or higher secure key rate for a given QKD system.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a promising technique to share unconditionally secure keys between remote parties. As an essential part of a practical QKD system, reconciliation is responsible for correcting the errors due to the quantum channel noise by exchanging information through a public classical channel. In the present work, we propose a novel syndrome-based low-density parity-check (LDPC) reconciliation protocol to reduce the information leakage of reconciliation by fully utilizing the syndrome information that was previously wasted. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our protocol can evidently reduce the information leakage as well as the number of communication rounds.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) relies on quantum and classical procedures in order to achieve the growing of a secret random string -the key- known only to the two parties executing the protocol. Limited intrinsic efficiency of the protocol, imperfect devices and eavesdropping produce errors and information leakage from which the set of measured signals -the raw key- must be stripped in order to distill a final, information theoretically secure, key. The key distillation process is a classical one in which basis reconciliation, error correction and privacy amplification protocols are applied to the raw key. This cleaning process is known as information reconciliation and must be done in a fast and efficient way to avoid cramping the performance of the QKD system. Brassard and Salvail proposed a very simple and elegant protocol to reconcile keys in the secret-key agreement context, known as Cascade, that has become the de-facto standard for all QKD practical implementations. However, it is highly interactive, requiring many communications between the legitimate parties and its efficiency is not optimal, imposing an early limit to the maximum tolerable error rate. In this paper we describe a low-density parity-check reconciliation protocol that improves significantly on these problems. The protocol exhibits better efficiency and limits the number of uses of the communications channel. It is also able to adapt to different error rates while remaining efficient, thus reaching longer distances or higher secure key rate for a given QKD system.