Quantum-Inspired Cryptographic Key Exchange with Entangled State Verification

Jincheng Zhang

Published Aug 28, 2026• 0 citations

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel cryptographic key exchange protocol inspired by quantum mechanics, specifically leveraging the principles of entanglement to enhance security against eavesdropping attacks. Traditional classical key exchange protocols, such as Diffie-Hellman, are susceptible to compromise due to the inherent vulnerabilities in mathematical computations and key distribution. Our approach introduces a verification step based on a measurement of an entangled state, providing a fundamentally different security model. The shared key is derived from the outcome of this measurement, and any attempt to intercept or manipulate the entangled state during transmission will inevitably introduce detectable errors, thus alerting the legitimate parties. We formalize the protocol with mathematical equations, outlining the key generation process and the eavesdropping detection mechanism. The core of the system relies on the uncertainty principle and the correlated nature of entangled states. This system presents a potential pathway towards more robust key exchange mechanisms, particularly as classical cryptography faces increasing pressure from advancements in computational power. The protocol's security is directly tied to the difficulty of accurately replicating the entangled state and performing the required measurement, offering a defense against sophisticated attacks.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22139560

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