DGL22: A practical Quantum key distribution

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols are unconditionally secure, providing that quantum devices are truthful. Device-independent quantum key distribution (DI-QKD) protocols offer the prospect of distributing secret keys with minimal assumptions. The DI-QKD protocols are hard to implement using the current technologies as they require all the quantum devices to be uncharacterized. Measurement device independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) protocols assume that the measurement devices are not truthful; the adversary might make them. MDI-QKD is secure but more challenging to implement. Receiver-device-independent quantum key distribution (RDI-QKD) protocols assume that the receiver's measurement devices can be viewed as a black box while the sender's device can be trusted. RDI-QKD relies on reasonable assumptions that make it easy to implement using the current state-of-the-art technology. We propose an RDI-QKD protocol, called DGL22. DGL22 is secure against all known attacks that are allowed by quantum mechanics. DGL22 provides several benefits over previous protocols, including the capability to attain high communication and sifting efficiency.