Encoding secret information in measurement settings

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel secure communication framework where messages are encoded in measurement settings, specifically using mutually unbiased bases, rather than in measurement outcomes, offering a new approach to quantum communication security.

Contribution

The work proposes a new paradigm for secure communication by encoding messages in measurement settings instead of outcomes, expanding the methods available in quantum cryptography.

Findings

Introduces protocols encoding messages in measurement settings.

Analyzes two variants using mutually unbiased bases.

Provides theoretical foundation for setting-based encoding.

Abstract

Secure communication protocols are often formulated in a paradigm where the message is encoded in measurement outcomes. In this work we propose a rather unexplored framework in which the message is encoded in measurement settings rather than in their outcomes. In particular, we study two different variants of such secure communication protocols in which the message alphabet corresponds to measurement settings of mutually unbiased bases.