On reconciliation of discrepant sequences shared through quantum mechanical channels

Abstract

In the practical quantum key distribution system, discrepancies may occur on the secret random sequences shared through a quantum mechanical channel even in the absence of an eavesdropper because of an imperfect system configuration and noises. The discrepancies may be spread and expanded tlirougli a following privacy amplification. Therefore all the discrepancies must be removed at this point. The reconciliation protocol was proposed by Bennett et al. As long as the authors know, however, detailed investigation on the protocol has not been reported.

In this report, we investigate the reconciliation protocol proposed by Bennett et al. and consider to optimize it.