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Frontiers in Physics

Semi-quantum key distribution with two classical users

Wan Qing Wu, Chen Yang Sun

Published Oct 20, 2022• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) is an important research issue which allows one quantum participant equipped with advanced quantum devices to distribute a shared secret key securely with one classical user who has restricted capabilities. In this paper, we propose a SQKD protocol which allows one quantum user to distribute two different private secret keys to two classical users respectively at the same time. Alice distributes two particle sequences from Bell states to Bob and Charlie respectively. Once the particles have been processed and returned, Alice can simultaneously detect reflected particles by Bob and Charlie based on Bell-state measurement and generate two different raw keys. To enable more participants in sharing keys, this protocol can be extended to the m + 1 party communication scheme by employing m-particle GHZ state. In large-scale communication networks, this extended model significantly reduces the complexity of communication compared to the traditional SQKD scheme. Security analyses show that the presented protocol is free from several general attacks, such as the entangle-measure attack, the modification attack, the double CNOT attack, and so on.

DOI
10.3389/fphy.2022.1029262

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Semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) is an important research issue which allows one quantum participant equipped with advanced quantum devices to distribute a shared secret key securely with one classical user who has restricted capabilities. In this paper, we propose a SQKD protocol which allows one quantum user to distribute two different private secret keys to two classical users respectively at the same time. Alice distributes two particle sequences from Bell states to Bob and Charlie respectively. Once the particles have been processed and returned, Alice can simultaneously detect reflected particles by Bob and Charlie based on Bell-state measurement and generate two different raw keys. To enable more participants in sharing keys, this protocol can be extended to the m + 1 party communication scheme by employing m-particle GHZ state. In large-scale communication networks, this extended model significantly reduces the complexity of communication compared to the traditional SQKD scheme. Security analyses show that the presented protocol is free from several general attacks, such as the entangle-measure attack, the modification attack, the double CNOT attack, and so on.
Abstract In this paper, a novel semiquantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol is proposed by using Bell state, where quantum Alice can sharesecret bits with classical Bob via quantum channel. Classical Bob is required to measure particles with thebasis, produce fresh particles within thebasis and send particles via quantum channel. Security analysis turns out that this protocol is immune to various attacks launched by the outside eavesdropper. Compared with present SQKD protocols using Bell states without a third party, on one hand, this protocol has the highest qubit efficiency; and on the other hand, the reflecting operations of the classical user in this protocol contribute to the generation of final shared key.
Abstract Semi-quantum protocols serve as a bridge between quantum users and "classical" users with limited quantum capabilities, providing support for application scenarios that cannot afford the excessively high cost of quantum resources. In this paper, we present a semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol based on Bell states and single particles, which is designed for key distribution between different types of users. The protocol enables simultaneous key distribution between quantum and classical users, as well as key establishment between two classical users. The security analysis demonstrates that the protocol can reach the same level of security as the full quantum protocol. Furthermore, we extrapolate the proposed protocol to other semi-quantum protocols, such as semi-quantum key agreement and semi-quantum private comparison protocols. Compared with previous similar ones, our SQKD protocol and its extended versions can fulfill the requirements of their respective counterparts individually. Therefore, our SQKD protocol has the potential for broader applications in practical scenarios.
In this paper, a novel hybrid protocol for semiquantum key distribution (SQKD) and semiquantum secret sharing (SQSS) was constructed by using GHZ-like states. This protocol is capable of establishing two different private keys between one quantum party and two semiquantum parties respectively, and making two semiquantum parties share another private key of the quantum party in the meanwhile. The usages of delay lines, Pauli operations, Hadamard gates and quantum entanglement swapping are not required. Moreover, the semiquantum parties are not necessary to be equipped with any quantum memory. We validate in detail that this protocol resists various attacks from Eve, including the Trojan horse attacks, the entangle-measure attack, the double controlled-not (CNOT) attacks, the measure-resend attack and the intercept-resend attack. To our best knowledge, this protocol is the only protocol which possesses the functions of both SQKD and SQSS simultaneously until now.
Classical users can share a secret key with a quantum user by using a semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol. Allowing two classical users to share a secret key is the objective of the mediated semi-quantum key distribution (MSQKD) protocol. However, the existing MSQKD protocols need a quantum user to assist two classical users in distributing the secret keys, and these protocols require that the classical users be equipped with a Trojan horse photon detector. This reduces the practicability of the MSQKD protocols. Therefore, in this study we propose a lightweight MSQKD, in which the two participants and third party are classical users. Due to the usage of the one-way transmission strategy, the proposed lightweight MSQKD protocol is free from quantum Trojan horse attack. The proposed MSQKD is more practical than the existing MSQKD protocols.
Semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) can share secret keys by using less quantum resource than its fully quantum counterparts, and this likely makes SQKD become more practical and realizable. In this paper, we present a new SQKD protocol by introducing the idea of B92 into semi-quantum key distribution and prove its unconditional security. In this protocol, the sender Alice just sends one qubit to the classical Bob and Bob just prepares one state in the preparation process. Indeed the classical user's measurement is not necessary either. This protocol can reduce some quantum communication and make it easier to be implemented. It can be seen as the semi-quantum version of B92 protocol, comparing to the protocol BKM2007 as the semi-quantum version of BB84 in fully quantum cryptography. We verify it has higher key rate and therefore is more efficient. Specifically we prove it is unconditionally secure by computing a lower bound of the key rate in the asymptotic scenario from information theory aspect. Then we can find a threshold value of errors such that for all error rates less than this value, the secure key can be established between the legitimate users definitely. We make an illustration of how to compute the threshold value in case of the reverse channel is a depolarizing one with parameter ppp. Though the threshold value is a little smaller than those of some existed SQKD protocols, it can be comparable to the B92 protocol in fully quantum cryptography.
Semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) can share secret keys by using less quantum resource than its fully quantum counterparts, and this likely makes SQKD become more practical and realizable. In this paper, we present a new SQKD protocol by introducing the idea of B92 protocol in fully quantum cryptography into SQKD. In this protocol, the sender Alice just sends one quantum state to the classical Bob and Bob just prepares a fixed state in the preparation process. It is much simpler than the existing SQKD and potentially much easier to be implemented. It can be seen as a semi-quantum version of B92 protocol, compared to the protocol BKM07 as the semi-quantum version of BB84 in fully quantum cryptography. We verify that it is more efficient than the existing single-state SQKD protocols by introducing an efficiency parameter. Specifically, we prove it is secure against a restricted collective attack by computing a lower bound of the key rate in the asymptotic scenario. Then we can find a threshold value of errors such that for all error rates less than this value, the secure key can be definitely established between the legitimate users definitely. We make an illustration of how to compute the threshold value in case the reverse channel is a depolarizing one with parameter [Formula: see text]. Though the threshold value is a little smaller than those of some existing SQKD protocols, it can be comparable to the B92 protocol in fully quantum cryptography.