Lightweight authenticated quantum key distribution protocols with key recycling

TL;DR

This paper introduces three lightweight quantum key distribution protocols with key recycling that require minimal quantum capabilities and do not depend on ideal classical channels, enhancing practical security and efficiency.

Contribution

The study proposes novel lightweight authenticated QKD protocols with key recycling that address practical implementation challenges and are secure against collective attacks.

Findings

Protocols are robust under collective attack

Require minimal quantum capabilities

Eliminate need for ideal classical channels

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) has been developed for decades and several different QKD protocols have been proposed. But two difficulties limit the implementation of most QKD protocols. First, the involved participants are required to have heavy quantum capabilities, such as quantum joint operation, quantum register, and so on. Second, a hypothetical authenticated classical channel is used in most of the existing QKD protocols and this assumed channel does not exist in reality. To solve both the above limitations at the same time, this study proposes three lightweight authenticated QKD protocols with key recycling and shows these proposed protocols are robust under the collective attack.