On Post-Quantum Cryptography Authentication for Quantum Key Distribution

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2507.21325v1
• Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:40:11 GMT
• Title: On Post-Quantum Cryptography Authentication for Quantum Key Distribution
• Authors: Juan Antonio Vieira Giestinhas, Timothy Spiller,
• Abstract summary: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) users authenticate themselves using pre-shared key material to join a quantum network.<n>Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) combined with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) offers a more scalable solution.<n>Unlike traditional PKI, which relies on classical cryptographic algorithms such as RSA, the approach presented in this paper leverages PQC algorithms believed to be resistant to quantum attacks.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: The traditional way for a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) user to join a quantum network is by authenticating themselves using pre-shared key material. While this approach is sufficient for small-scale networks, it becomes impractical as the network grows, due to the total quadratic increase in the number of pre-shared keys required. To address this scalability issue, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) combined with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) offers a more scalable solution, allowing users to authenticate the QKD traffic remotely to obtain information-theoretical secure (ITS) keys under the presented assumptions. Unlike traditional PKI, which relies on classical cryptographic algorithms such as RSA, the approach presented in this paper leverages PQC algorithms that are believed to be resistant to quantum attacks. Similarly to the SIGMA or TLS protocols, authentication, confidentiality, and integrity are achievable against bounded adversaries to ensure secure and scalable quantum networks.

Related papers

• Integration of quantum random number generators with post-quantum cryptography algorithms [36.136619420474766]
  Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) has become a potential solution to prolong the life of existing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems.<n>PQC protocols depend on high-quality randomness for key generation and encapsulation procedures.<n>We demonstrate a proof-of-concept enabling the incorporation of Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG) devices within communication networks using PQC-based Transport Layer Security (TLS)
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-07-01T10:56:39Z)
• Quantum Key Distribution with Efficient Post-Quantum Cryptography-Secured Trusted Node on a Quantum Network [1.445798244256451]
  Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables two distant users to exchange a secret key with information-theoretic security.<n>We present an efficient scheme leveraging a trusted node with lower privacy requirements thanks to the use of post-quantum cryptographic techniques.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-04-02T08:06:16Z)
• Quantum-Safe integration of TLS in SDN networks [0.0]
  transition to quantum-safe cryptography within the next decade is critical.<n>We have selected Transport Layer Security as the foundation to hybridize classical, quantum, and post-quantum cryptography.<n>The performance of this approach has been demonstrated using a deployed production infrastructure.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-02-24T14:35:56Z)
• Practical hybrid PQC-QKD protocols with enhanced security and performance [44.8840598334124]
  We develop hybrid protocols by which QKD and PQC inter-operate within a joint quantum-classical network. In particular, we consider different hybrid designs that may offer enhanced speed and/or security over the individual performance of either approach.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-11-02T00:02:01Z)
• Towards efficient and secure quantum-classical communication networks [47.27205216718476]
  There are two primary approaches to achieving quantum-resistant security: quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) We introduce the pros and cons of these protocols and explore how they can be combined to achieve a higher level of security and/or improved performance in key distribution. We hope our discussion inspires further research into the design of hybrid cryptographic protocols for quantum-classical communication networks.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-11-01T23:36:19Z)
• Quantum-Secured Data Centre Interconnect in a field environment [38.4938584033229]
  Quantum key distribution (QKD) is an established quantum technology at a high readiness level. In this article, we present the successful implementation of a QKD field trial within a commercial data centre environment. The achieved average secret key rate of 2.392 kbps and an average quantum bit error rate of less than 2% demonstrate the commercial feasibility of QKD in real-world scenarios.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-10-14T08:05:25Z)
• Dynamic Quantum Group Key Agreement via Tree Key Graphs [36.47236890715043]
  We propose two dynamic Quantum Group Key Agreement protocols for a join or leave request in group communications. The number of qubits required per join or leave only increases logarithmically with the group size.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-12-07T07:45:59Z)
• Authentication of quantum key distribution with post-quantum cryptography and replay attacks [1.8476815769956565]
  Quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) are two cryptographic mechanisms with quantum-resistant security. We propose two protocols based on PQC to realize the full authentication of QKD data post-processing.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-06-02T17:29:34Z)
• Authentication of Metropolitan Quantum Key Distribution Network with Post-quantum Cryptography [13.937739507933578]
  The Jinan field metropolitan QKD network comprised of 14 user nodes and 5 optical switching nodes. The feasibility, effectiveness and stability of the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithm and advantages of replacing trusted relays with optical switching were verified.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-06-04T12:15:57Z)
• Experimental Authentication of Quantum Key Distribution with Post-quantum Cryptography [3.627592297350721]
  We experimentally verified the feasibility, efficiency and stability of the PQC algorithm in QKD authentication. Using PQC authentication we only need to believe the CA is safe, rather than all trusted relays.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-09-10T04:12:07Z)
• Backflash Light as a Security Vulnerability in Quantum Key Distribution Systems [77.34726150561087]
  We review the security vulnerabilities of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. We mainly focus on a particular effect known as backflash light, which can be a source of eavesdropping attacks.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-03-23T18:23:12Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.