https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00205-x
Research
Mutual entity authentication of quantum key distribution network system using authentication qubits
1
Department of Information security, Cryptology and Mathematics, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea
2
Center for Quantum Information, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
3
Division of Nano and Information Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
4
Division of Quantum Technology, SDT Inc., Seoul, South Korea
5
Artificial intelligence & Big Data Examination Division, Korean Intellectual Property Office, Daejeon, South Korea
Received:
1
July
2023
Accepted:
6
November
2023
Published online:
15
November
2023
Entity authentication is crucial for ensuring secure quantum communication as it helps confirm the identity of participants before transmitting any confidential information. We propose a practical entity authentication protocol for quantum key distribution (QKD) network systems that utilizes authentication qubits. In this protocol, authentication qubits that are encoded with pre-shared information are generated and exchanged to verify the legitimacy of each entity. By using the authentication qubit, participants can identify each other with enhanced security level through the quantum channel. The proposed protocol can be easily integrated with existing QKD systems without the need for additional hardware. In this study, we demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed scheme using a 1xN QKD network system and verified its stable operation over a deployed fiber network. Additionally, a security analysis of the proposed entity authentication protocol and architecture is provided.
Key words: Entity authentication / Quantum key distribution network / Deterministic random bit generation
Hojoong Park and Byung Kwon Park contributed equally to this work.
© The Author(s) 2023
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