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Optics Express

Measurement device hacking-free mutual quantum identity authentication over a deployed optical fiber

Ji-Woong Choi, Chang-Hoon Park, Na-Hee Lim, Min Ki Woo, Min-Sung Kang, Sang-Wook Han

Published Oct 30, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum identity authentication serves as a crucial technology for secure quantum communication, but its security often faces challenges due to quantum hacking of measurement devices. This study introduces a measurement-device-independent mutual quantum identity authentication (MDI MQIA) scheme capable of ensuring secure user authentication, despite the use of measurement devices vulnerable to quantum hacking. To realize the MDI MQIA scheme, we proposed and applied a modified Bell state measurement based on linear optics, enabling the probabilistic measurement of all Bell states. Furthermore, the proposed experimental setup adopted a plug-and-play architecture, thus efficiently establishing the indistinguishability of two photons prepared by the communication members. Finally, we successfully performed a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration of the proposed scheme using a field-deployed fiber, achieving quantum bit error rates of less than 3%.

DOI
10.1364/oe.504224

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Quantum identity authentication serves as a crucial technology for secure quantum communication, but its security often faces challenges due to quantum hacking of measurement devices. This study introduces a measurement-device-independent mutual quantum identity authentication (MDI MQIA) scheme capable of ensuring secure user authentication, despite the use of measurement devices vulnerable to quantum hacking. To realize the MDI MQIA scheme, we proposed and applied a modified Bell state measurement based on linear optics, enabling the probabilistic measurement of all Bell states. Furthermore, the proposed experimental setup adopted a plug-and-play architecture, thus efficiently establishing the indistinguishability of two photons prepared by the communication members. Finally, we successfully performed a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration of the proposed scheme using a field-deployed fiber, achieving quantum bit error rates of less than 3%.
Abstract Quantum dialogue (QD) realizes the real-time secure bidirectional quantum communication. Measurement-device-independent (MDI) QD can resist all possible attacks focusing on the imperfect measurement devices and enhance QD’s practical security. However, in practical applications, any secure communication requires identity authentication as a prerequisite. In this paper, we propose an MDI QD protocol with bidirectional identity authentication. The practical communication parties can first authenticate the identity of each other simultaneously before the message exchange. In theory, our MDI QD protocol has unconditional security and the communication parties can exchange 1.5 bits of messages in each communication round with linear optical Bell state measurement. We numerically simulate the secrecy message capacity of our MDI QD protocol. Our protocol has two advantages. First, it can effectively resist the impersonation attack and enhance MDI QD’s practical security. Second, it does not require keys to assist the message exchange and has relatively high efficiency. Our protocol has application potential in the future quantum communication field.
Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) enables secure message transmission without needing pre-shared keys. To enhance the practical reliability of QSDC systems, measurement-device-independent (MDI) protocols have emerged, providing robust security in real-world applications. Despite the advantages of MDI protocols, their implementation has not yet accomplished communication using only single photons which are advantageous due to their ease of preparation and transmission. In this letter, by employing single photons, we propose a novel MDI-QSDC protocol with identity authentication. This protocol achieves mutual identity authentication between the communicating parties, Alice and Bob, enabling authenticated Alice to securely transmit her secret message directly to authenticated Bob. Theoretical analysis demonstrates the protocol is resilient to identity and message security threats. Simulations with practical experimental parameters and efficiency analysis highlight its potential in quantum communication.
In cryptography, an identity authentication protocol can be used to identify the legitimation of users in communication. Usually, it is totally irrelative with key distribution protocol. From this point of view, we introduce a novel mutual identity authentication scheme on the basis of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocol, which utilizes the monogamous property of the Bell states. As a result, our proposed protocol can achieve identity authentication and key distribution in one round. Besides, we merge the estimation of error rate into the processing of identity authentication, it can make MDI-QKD more efficient. What's more, according to the simulation result, the protocol can work well in a noisy environment. Also due to the property of hash functions, it can be implemented efficiently with software.
Abstract Measurement-device-independent quantum digital signature (MDI-QDS) guarantees the authenticity and integrity of a message with security against all detector side-channel attacks. However, the experimental implementation of MDI-QDS in actual systems is extremely complicated since: (i) high-visibility interference requires several additional active control units for mode matching; (ii) a key assumption in MDI-QDS is that the laser source located at each user should be trusted. In this work, we propose a plug-and-play MDI-QDS scheme with a single untrusted source. On the one hand, it completely eliminates the requirement that each user must have a trusted laser source, and only needs to set an untrusted source at the Relay. On the other hand, the mode matching of MDI-QDS can be realized automatically with a plug-and-play structure. We then discuss the performance of the scheme by using the two-intensity decoy-state method with full parameter optimization. The numerical simulations show that the plug-and-play MDI-QDS with a single untrusted source provides comparable performances to the original MDI-QDS in a low-loss regime but with a simpler experimental setup. Consequently, the scheme can be flexibly implemented with common optical components in an optical fiber network since users can share both detectors and a complicated laser source.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) gaurantees unconditional communication security based on the laws of quantum physics. However, practical QKD suffers from a number of quantum hackings due to the device imperfections. From the security standpoint, measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is in the limelight since it eliminates all the possible loopholes in detection. Due to active control units for mode matching between the photons from remote parties, however, the implementation of MDI-QKD is highly impractical. In this article, we propose a novel method in which the indistinguishability issue is resolved without any active control unit. By introducing Plug-and-Play (P&P) concept into MDI-QKD, the indistinguishability between photons can naturally be guaranteed. We show the feasibility of P&P MDI-QKD with a proof-of-principle experiment.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) guarantees unconditional communication security based on the laws of quantum physics. However, practical QKD suffers from a number of quantum hackings due to the device imperfections. From the security standpoint, measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is in the limelight since it eliminates all the possible loopholes in detection. Due to active control units for mode matching between the photons from remote parties, however, the implementation of MDI-QKD is highly impractical. In this paper, we propose a method to resolve the mode matching problem while minimizing the use of active control units. By introducing the plug-and-play (P) concept into MDI-QKD, the indistinguishability in spectral and polarization modes between photons can naturally be guaranteed. We show the feasibility of P MDI-QKD with a proof-of-principle experiment.