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

Annalen der Physik

Mediated Semi‐Quantum Key Distribution Without Invoking Quantum Measurement

Zhi‐Rou Liu, Tzonelih Hwang

Published Jan 29, 2018• 76 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract This paper proposes a new semi‐quantum key distribution protocol, allowing two “classical” participants without sophisticated quantum capability to establish a shared secret key under an untrusted third party (a quantum server). The proposed protocol is free from several well‐known attacks. Furthermore, the efficiency is better than the existing three‐party SQKD protocol in which the classical participants must have the quantum measurement capability.

DOI
10.1002/andp.201700206

Related papers

Mediated Semi‐Quantum Key Distribution Using Single Photons

Po-Hua Lin, Chia‐Wei Tsai, Tzonelih Hwang

Abstract A new mediated semi‐quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol is proposed, allowing two classical participants to share a secret key with the help of an untrusted third party, who only needs to generate single photons and perform Bell measurements. This is the first work attempting to reduce the quantum overhead of the untrusted third party, which makes the mediated SQKD even more practical. The proposed protocol is shown to be free from several well‐known attacks.

Annalen der Physik•Apr 18, 2019•41 citations

Three Attacks on the Mediated Semi‐Quantum Key Distribution without Invoking Quantum Measurement

Xiangfu Zou, Zhenbang Rong, Nanrun Zhou

Abstract Semi‐quantum key distribution is a very interesting new branch of quantum key distribution. It can be implemented when one or more participants are restricted to operate quantum states only on the quantum computational basis. Very recently, a mediated semi‐quantum key distribution protocol without invoking two participants' quantum measurement has been proposed. The protocol allows two “classical” participants without sophisticated quantum capability to establish a shared secret key under an untrusted third party. It is claimed that the protocol is secure against several well‐known attacks. However, in this paper, it is first pointed out that there exist three attacks “Measurement Attack, Modification Attack, and Collective Attack” on the mediated semi‐quantum key distribution protocol without invoking quantum measurement. By proposed attacks, a malicious third party can obtain the secret key without being noticed by legitimated participants.

Annalen der Physik•Jul 9, 2020•5 citations

Efficient Mediated Semi-Quantum Key Distribution Protocol Using Single Qubits

Mustapha Anis Younes, Sofia Zebboudj, Abdelhakim Gharbi

In this paper, we propose a new efficient mediated semi-quantum key distribution (MSQKD) protocol, facilitating the establishment of a shared secret key between two classical participants with the assistance of an untrusted third party (TP). Unlike existing MSQKD protocols, our approach significantly reduces the quantum requirements for TP, who only needs to prepare and measure qubits in the $X$ basis. Meanwhile, the classical participants are limited to preparing and measuring qubits in the $Z$ basis, along with performing Hadamard operations. This reduction in quantum overhead enhances the practicality of our MSQKD protocol without compromising qubit efficiency. Additionally, we demonstrate the security of our protocol against various well-known attacks.

arXiv:2404.17727•Apr 26, 2024•0 citations

Mediated Asymmetric Semi-Quantum Key Distribution

Yi Fan Yang, Tzonelih Hwang

This study proposes a new mediated asymmetric semi-quantum key distribution (MASQKD) protocol. With the help of a dishonest third party, two classical participants, who have only limited asymmetric quantum capabilities, can share a secret key with each other. The proposed protocol is shown to be immune to several well-known attacks. Furthermore, an improved MASQKD protocol is proposed in which the quantum capabilities of one participant can be further reduced.

arXiv:2009.06283•Sep 14, 2020•1 citation

An efficient lightweight mediated semi-quantum key distribution with single-particle states

Yihua Zhou, Xiang-Rui Li, Yu‐Guang Yang +1 more

Abstract In this paper, we propose an efficient lightweight mediated semi-quantum key distribution (LM-SQKD) protocol, which enables two lightweight participants to securely establish a shared key with the help of an untrusted third party (TP). Compared with existing M-SQKD protocols, our protocol significantly reduces the overall quantum burden and improves the qubit efficiency, where TP only needs to prepare and measure qubits in the X basis and two lightweight participants are just required to execute three unitary operations and reflect qubits. Furthermore, the detailed security analysis verifies that the proposed protocol can against three well-known attacks.

Physica Scripta•Jun 2, 2025•3 citations

Multi-Mediated Semi-Quantum Key Distribution

Walter O. Krawec

A semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol allows two users A and B to establish a shared secret key that is secure against an all-powerful adversary E even when one of the users (e.g., B) is semi-quantum or classical in nature while the other is fully-quantum. A mediated SQKD protocol allows two semi-quantum users to establish a key with the help of an adversarial quantum server. We introduce the concept of a multi-mediated SQKD protocol where two (or more) adversarial quantum servers are used. We construct a new protocol in this model and show how it can withstand high levels of quantum noise, though at a cost to efficiency. We perform an information theoretic security analysis and, along the way, prove a general security result applicable to arbitrary MM-SQKD protocols. Finally, a comparison is made to previous (S)QKD protocols.

IEEE Globecom Workshops (GC Wkshps)•Dec 1, 2019•10 citations
Abstract This paper proposes a new semi‐quantum key distribution protocol, allowing two “classical” participants without sophisticated quantum capability to establish a shared secret key under an untrusted third party (a quantum server). The proposed protocol is free from several well‐known attacks. Furthermore, the efficiency is better than the existing three‐party SQKD protocol in which the classical participants must have the quantum measurement capability.
Abstract Semi‐quantum key distribution is a very interesting new branch of quantum key distribution. It can be implemented when one or more participants are restricted to operate quantum states only on the quantum computational basis. Very recently, a mediated semi‐quantum key distribution protocol without invoking two participants' quantum measurement has been proposed. The protocol allows two “classical” participants without sophisticated quantum capability to establish a shared secret key under an untrusted third party. It is claimed that the protocol is secure against several well‐known attacks. However, in this paper, it is first pointed out that there exist three attacks “Measurement Attack, Modification Attack, and Collective Attack” on the mediated semi‐quantum key distribution protocol without invoking quantum measurement. By proposed attacks, a malicious third party can obtain the secret key without being noticed by legitimated participants.
In this paper, we propose a new efficient mediated semi-quantum key distribution (MSQKD) protocol, facilitating the establishment of a shared secret key between two classical participants with the assistance of an untrusted third party (TP). Unlike existing MSQKD protocols, our approach significantly reduces the quantum requirements for TP, who only needs to prepare and measure qubits in the XXX basis. Meanwhile, the classical participants are limited to preparing and measuring qubits in the ZZZ basis, along with performing Hadamard operations. This reduction in quantum overhead enhances the practicality of our MSQKD protocol without compromising qubit efficiency. Additionally, we demonstrate the security of our protocol against various well-known attacks.
Abstract In this paper, we propose an efficient lightweight mediated semi-quantum key distribution (LM-SQKD) protocol, which enables two lightweight participants to securely establish a shared key with the help of an untrusted third party (TP). Compared with existing M-SQKD protocols, our protocol significantly reduces the overall quantum burden and improves the qubit efficiency, where TP only needs to prepare and measure qubits in the X basis and two lightweight participants are just required to execute three unitary operations and reflect qubits. Furthermore, the detailed security analysis verifies that the proposed protocol can against three well-known attacks.
A semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol allows two users A and B to establish a shared secret key that is secure against an all-powerful adversary E even when one of the users (e.g., B) is semi-quantum or classical in nature while the other is fully-quantum. A mediated SQKD protocol allows two semi-quantum users to establish a key with the help of an adversarial quantum server. We introduce the concept of a multi-mediated SQKD protocol where two (or more) adversarial quantum servers are used. We construct a new protocol in this model and show how it can withstand high levels of quantum noise, though at a cost to efficiency. We perform an information theoretic security analysis and, along the way, prove a general security result applicable to arbitrary MM-SQKD protocols. Finally, a comparison is made to previous (S)QKD protocols.