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Quantum Information Processing

Measurement-device-independent quantum secure direct communication based on decoy states and polarization–spatial hyperentanglement

Huayao Zhang, Ri‐Gui Zhou

Published Sep 23, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) can directly transmit confidential messages without pre-distributing secret keys. In practical applications, non-ideal light sources naturally contain multiphoton components, which can easily lead to photon-number-splitting attacks and constitute a core problem restricting secure practical implementation. Existing measurement-device-independent (MDI) QSDC protocols are mostly based on ideal source assumptions and lack strict security authentication for practical multiphoton risks. This paper proposes an MDI-QSDC protocol based on decoy states and polarization--spatial hyperentanglement. The protocol lower-bounds the contribution of the two-single-pair sector through an active three-intensity decoy-state mechanism and imposes a conservative bound on the potential information leakage caused by multiphoton events, while using polarization--spatial hyperentangled encoding to increase the payload of each valid HBSA event and relying on the MDI architecture to remove the need to trust the measurement device. Compared with similar schemes, this protocol significantly improves the secure message capacity in practical scenarios while maintaining detector-side security.

DOI
10.1007/s11128-026-05340-9

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Abstract Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) can directly transmit confidential messages without pre-distributing secret keys. In practical applications, non-ideal light sources naturally contain multiphoton components, which can easily lead to photon-number-splitting attacks and constitute a core problem restricting secure practical implementation. Existing measurement-device-independent (MDI) QSDC protocols are mostly based on ideal source assumptions and lack strict security authentication for practical multiphoton risks. This paper proposes an MDI-QSDC protocol based on decoy states and polarization--spatial hyperentanglement. The protocol lower-bounds the contribution of the two-single-pair sector through an active three-intensity decoy-state mechanism and imposes a conservative bound on the potential information leakage caused by multiphoton events, while using polarization--spatial hyperentangled encoding to increase the payload of each valid HBSA event and relying on the MDI architecture to remove the need to trust the measurement device. Compared with similar schemes, this protocol significantly improves the secure message capacity in practical scenarios while maintaining detector-side security.
Abstract Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) achieves direct and secure transmission of information which does not need a pre-shared key. To improve the practical reliability of QSDC systems, Measurement-device-independent quantum secure direct communication protocol (MDI-QSDC) have emerged, which provide a more secure communication method by eliminating the dependence on measurement devices. This paper proposes an MDI-QSDC protocol based on polarization-spatial-orbital angular momentum mode hyperentanglement and quantum covert channel (QCC). This protocol can transmit 6-bit information in one round of communication, eliminating security vulnerability and information leakage associated with measurement devices. Compared with the previous MDI-QSDC protocols, this paper further clarifies the enhancement of channel capacity and security through numerical simulation studies. Further, the protocol introduces imperceptible QCC on polarization-spatial mode, which is significantly more secure than direct coding on polarization-spatial mode only. Based on the above features, the potential of the proposed high-capacity MDI-QSDC protocol in quantum communication is highlighted.
Abstract Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) enables the direct transmission of secret messages without prior sharing of keys among the communicating parties. However, in practical situations, an eavesdropper can compromise the measurement device and potentially steal secret messages. To enhance the reliability of QSDC systems, measurement-device-independent (MDI) QSDC protocols have been developed. In this paper, we propose a high-capacity MDI-QSDC protocol with authentication by utilizing hyperentangled Bell states. The protocol allows the sender to transmit six classical bit messages to the receiver using one quantum state. Our protocol has a higher coding capacity compared to other MDI-QSDC protocols. Additionally, we achieve mutual authentication of the identities of the communicating parties, and our scheme has significant advantages over the traditional QSDC protocols, where the legitimacy of the communicating parties has to be assumed. Theoretical analysis proves that our protocol can effectively defend against common attacks.
Abstract Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) enables the direct transmission of secret messages without prior sharing of keys among the communicating parties. However, in practical situations, an eavesdropper can compromise the measurement device and potentially steal secret messages. To enhance the reliability of QSDC systems, measurement-device-independent (MDI) QSDC protocols have been developed. In this paper, we propose a high-capacity MDI-QSDC protocol with authentication by utilizing hyperentangled Bell states. The protocol allows the sender to transmit six classical bit messages to the receiver using one quantum state. Our protocol has a higher coding capacity compared to other MDI-QSDC protocols. Additionally, we achieve mutual authentication of the identities of the communicating parties, and our scheme has significant advantages over the traditional QSDC protocols, where the legitimacy of the communicating parties has to be assumed. Theoretical analysis proves that our protocol can effectively defend against common attacks.
The one-step quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) (Sci. Bull. 67, 367 (2022)) can effectively simplify QSDC’s operation and reduce message loss. For enhancing its security under practical experimental condition, we propose two measurement-device-independent (MDI) one-step QSDC protocols, which can resist all possible attacks from imperfect measurement devices. In both protocols, the communication parties prepare identical polarization-spatial-mode two-photon hyperentangled states and construct the hyperentanglement channel by hyperentanglement swapping. The first MDI one-step QSDC protocol adopts the nonlinear-optical complete hyperentanglement Bell state measurement (HBSM) to construct the hyperentanglement channel, while the second protocol adopts the linear-optical partial HBSM. Then, the parties encode the photons in the polarization degree of freedom and send them to the third party for the hyperentanglement-assisted complete polarization Bell state measurement. Both protocols are unconditionally secure in theory. The simulation results show the MDI one-step QSDC protocol with complete HBSM attains the maximal communication distance of about 354 km. Our MDI one-step QSDC protocols may have potential applications in the future quantum secure communication field.
Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) can realize the direct and secure transmission of information instead of sharing secure keys between two parties. Similar to quantum key distribution (QKD), in practical applications, QSDC may suffer from attacks from imperfect detector. Measurement-device–independent QSDC (MDI-QSDC) can remove all attacks at detector's side and close all loopholes in the detection system. However, existing MDI-QSDC protocols have relatively low capacity. In this paper, we propose a high-capacity MDI-QSDC protocol of multiple degrees of freedom of a single photon. Compared with original MDI-QSDC protocols, our protocol has larger channel capacity which can use a single photon to transmit multi-bit of secure information. This protocol may have potential application in future quantum secure communication.
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.