Optimizing Epsilon Security Parameters in QKD

TL;DR

This paper uses a genetic algorithm to optimize epsilon-security parameters in QKD protocols, significantly improving secure key rates especially at high security levels where rates usually drop to zero.

Contribution

It introduces a novel optimization approach for epsilon-security parameters in QKD, enhancing key rates and revealing positive-rate regimes previously inaccessible.

Findings

Optimized epsilon-values lead to higher key rates at high security levels.

The approach uncovers positive key rate regimes not seen with standard parameters.

Substantial improvements in key rates compared to non-optimized settings.

Abstract

We investigate the optimization of epsilon-security parameters in quantum key distribution (QKD), aiming to improve the achievable secure key rate under a fixed overall composable security level. For this purpose, we employ a continuous genetic algorithm (CGA) to optimize the epsilon-security components of two representative protocols: the homodyne protocol from the continuous-variable (CV) family and the BB84 protocol from the discrete-variable (DV) family. We detail the CGA configuration, summarize the derivation of the composable key rate, and emphasize the role of the epsilon-parameters in both protocols. We then compare key rates obtained with optimized epsilon-values against those derived from standard and randomized choices. Our results demonstrate substantial key rate improvements at high security levels, where the key rate typically vanishes, and uncover positive-rate regimes that are inaccessible without optimization.