Quantum
vernam cipher
(pp14-34)
D.
W. Leung
doi:
https://doi.org/10.26421/QIC2.1-2
Abstracts:
We discuss aspects of secure quantum communication by
proposing and analyzing a quantum analog of the Vernam cipher
(one-time-pad). The quantum Vernam cipher uses entanglement as the key
to encrypt quantum information sent through an insecure quantum channel.
First, in sharp contrast with the classical Vernam cipher, the quantum
key can be recycled securely. We show that key recycling is intrinsic to
the quantum cipher-text, rather than using entanglement as the key.
Second, the scheme detects and corrects for arbitrary transmission
errors, and it does so using only local operations and classical
communication (LOCC) between the sender and the receiver. The
application to quantum message authentication is discussed. Quantum
secret sharing schemes with similar properties are characterized. We
also discuss two general issues, the relation between secret
communication and secret sharing, the classification of secure
communication protocols.
Key words: private key
encryption, key recycling, secret sharing, authentication |