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ACM Turing Celebration Conference - China (ACM TURC)

Quantum key distribution protocol based on CSS error correcting codes

Wei Jia, Feng Bao, Hao Cheng Yu, Yuxiang Bian

Published May 17, 2019• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In the quantum key distribution (QKD) process, the presence of noise in the quantum channel reduces the efficiency of QKD with low transmission reliability. Quantum error correcting codes (QECCs) can weaken the impact of noise on the final result due to its flexibility in code length and rate selection. In this paper, QECCs is used to overcome the adverse effects of quantum channel noise, and a QKD protocol based on quantum CSS error correcting codes is proposed. Firstly, we construct the corresponding quantum CSS codes based on classical linear code, then modify and simplify some steps of BB84 protocol by using the characteristics of error correcting codes to design the new protocol. Through theoretical deduction, our QKD protocol based on quantum CSS codes improves the security of key transmission, and the confidentiality of transmission in the noisy quantum channel is also enhanced.

DOI
10.1145/3321408.3326680

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In the quantum key distribution (QKD) process, the presence of noise in the quantum channel reduces the efficiency of QKD with low transmission reliability. Quantum error correcting codes (QECCs) can weaken the impact of noise on the final result due to its flexibility in code length and rate selection. In this paper, QECCs is used to overcome the adverse effects of quantum channel noise, and a QKD protocol based on quantum CSS error correcting codes is proposed. Firstly, we construct the corresponding quantum CSS codes based on classical linear code, then modify and simplify some steps of BB84 protocol by using the characteristics of error correcting codes to design the new protocol. Through theoretical deduction, our QKD protocol based on quantum CSS codes improves the security of key transmission, and the confidentiality of transmission in the noisy quantum channel is also enhanced.
Quantum encryption guarantees the absolute security of key distribution from the physical mechanism. However, in the process of quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum channel noise will reduce the transmission efficiency. Quantum low-density parity check (quantum LDPC) code has become a hot research topic of quantum error correcting code due to its great flexibility in the choice of code length and code rate and its dependence on sparse graphs. In order to improve the transmission reliability, a QKD protocol based on BB84 and quantum LDPC code is designed. First, we construct a quantum LDCP error correcting code. Then we utilize the error correcting code and BB84 to construct our QKD protocol. Finally, we analyze the influence of the quantum LDPC code on the proposed protocol. The results show that the key transmission efficiency of the our protocol is improved, and the validity of the QKD protocol based on BB84 and quantum LDPC codes in noisy quantum channels is verified.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure underwater communications essential for maritime infrastructure. Underwater optical channels introduce substantial photon loss (erasures) and ambient noise that degrade QKD performance. This paper investigates whether two four-qubit Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) quantum error correction codes (QECC) mitigate these impairments in vertical underwater communication BB84 QKD protocol. After developing a comprehensive stochastic channel model incorporating photon loss, geometric spreading, and solar noise, we assess the viability of QECC through the analytical study of the quantum bit error rate (QBER) and the secure key rate (SKR) with and without security depending on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) validated against Monte Carlo simulations. The standard four-qubit CSS code achieves a 3 dB SNR gain at the QBER 11% security threshold; the discard code variant achieves 4.5 dB. However, QECC includes an encoding overhead that reduces the SKR. We demonstrate a crucial relationship between the SKR and the probability of arrival of the sent photon. Analysis shows that QECC is beneficial exclusively in marginal SNR regimes; at high SNR, raw BB84 dominates. For an ocean Type III Jerlov water scenario with sunlight coming from the sun located at the top of the atmosphere, we identify operational depth-range windows where QECC enables communication otherwise infeasible. This analysis establishes that error correction deployment must be scenario-dependent: extend operational range at the cost of throughput when SNR is marginal, or prioritize key generation rates at high SNR.
Relativistic quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol is a kind of modified BB84 QKD protocol based on the principles of not only quantum mechanics but also special relativity. Its advantage compared with BB84 protocol is that all of the qubits could be used for key generation, and Alice and Bob are able to select any measuring bases. We prove its unconditional security against coherent attack via the method based on CSS codes: begin with a modified EPR based protocol which can be proved unconditionally secure, then reduce the protocol to a CSS codes based protocol. Finally, the CSS codes based protocol is demonstrated equivalent to the relativistic QKD protocol, and we arrived at the conclusion of the unconditional security of the final key.
Objective of this paper is the study of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols based on classical error-correcting codes. The Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems and related protocols, in particular conditions, can use the classic channel coding techniques, instead of quantum error-correcting codes, both for correcting errors that occurred during the exchange of a cryptographic key between two authorized users, and to allow privacy amplification, in order to make completely vain a possible intruder attempt. The secret key is transmitted over a quantum, and thus safe, channel, characterized by very low transmission rates and high error rates. This channel is safe for the properties of a quantum system, where each measurement on the system perturbs the system itself, allowing the authorized users to “feel” if there is any intruder listening. Moreover, as shown by accurate experimental studies, the communication channel used for quantum key exchange is not able to reach high levels of reliability (the Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) takes values between 0.05 and 0.11), both because of the inherent characteristics of the system, and of the presence of a possible attacker. Thus, in order to obtain acceptable residual error rates, it is necessary to use a parallel classical and public channel, conversely characterized by high transmission rates and low error rates, on which to transmit only the redundancy bits of systematic channel codes with performance possibly close to the capacity limit.
This paper presents the design of a communication protocol leveraging quantum error-correcting codes to enhance the reliability of quantum communication. The core idea revolves around encoding quantum information using a specific quantum error-correcting code and subsequently transmitting this encoded information. During transmission, the protocol employs error detection and correction techniques based on the chosen code to mitigate the detrimental effects of noise and decoherence, which are inherent challenges in quantum communication. The proposed protocol aims to significantly improve the robustness of quantum communication channels, a critical step towards realizing practical quantum networks and secure quantum key distribution. The theoretical framework and mathematical formulation of the protocol are presented, detailing the encoding process, error detection, and correction mechanisms. This work contributes to the growing field of quantum communication by providing a concrete design methodology for building more reliable quantum communication systems.
In this paper, we propose how to construct a pair of linear codes simply for the BB84 quantum key distribution protocol. This protocol allows unconditional security in the presence of an eavesdropper, and the pair of linear codes is used for error correction and privacy amplification. Since their high decoding performance implies low eavesdropper's mutual information, the design of the two good codes is required. The proposed method admits the use of arbitrary low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. Hence, this approach has low complexity and high performance for hardware implementation. Simulation results show that the pair of codes performs well against practical and various noise levels.