Unconditional Authentication in Quantum Key Distribution via Hybrid Entangled Physical Unclonable Functions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a PUF-based authentication protocol for QKD that eliminates the need for pre-shared secrets, enabling fully ITS-authenticated quantum communication with minimal hardware assumptions.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel hybrid entangled PUF protocol that provides initial key authentication for QKD without pre-shared secrets, enhancing practical quantum network security.

Findings

Successfully performed a fully ITS-authenticated entanglement-based QKD protocol.

Generated an ITS initial key using minimal hardware assumptions.

Eliminated the need for pre-shared secrets in quantum communication.

Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables Information-Theoretically Secure (ITS) key exchange, robust even against future quantum computing threats. However, a fundamental limitation of QKD is the requirement for an authenticated classical channel, which necessitates a pre-shared secret key. In this work, we address this challenge by adopting a Hybrid Entangled Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) protocol for authentication. We demonstrate that this PUF-based method generates an ITS initial key under minimal explicit hardware assumptions. This approach allows us to experimentally perform a fully ITS-authenticated entanglement-based QKD protocol that relies solely on such assumptions, effectively eliminating the need for pre-shared secrets. This represents a significant step towards the practical realization of quantum network protocols using lightweight, readily available hardware assumptions, without weakening security guarantees.