Free-space reconfigurable quantum key distribution network

TL;DR

This paper introduces a flexible free-space QKD network enabling secure communication for mobile users, offering adaptable protocols and a novel position verification scheme that enhances security and efficiency.

Contribution

It presents a reconfigurable quantum network infrastructure supporting multiple QKD protocols and introduces a loss-tolerant quantum position verification method for improved security.

Findings

Supports measurement-device-independent QKD and decoy state BB84 protocols

Enables secure communication among mobile users without pre-shared keys

Provides a loss-tolerant quantum position verification scheme

Abstract

We propose a free-space reconfigurable quantum key distribution (QKD) network to secure communication among mobile users. Depends on the trustworthiness of the network relay, the users can implement either the highly secure measurement-device-independent QKD, or the highly efficient decoy state BB84 QKD. Based on the same quantum infrastructure, we also propose a loss tolerant quantum position verification scheme, which could allow the QKD users to initiate the QKD process without relying on pre-shared key.