Stability assessment of QKD procedures in commercial quantum cryptography systems versus quality of dark channel

Abstract

In order to assess the susceptibility of the quantum key distribution (QKD) systems to the hacking attack including simultaneous and frequent system self-decalibrations, we analyze the stability of the QKD transmission organized in two commercially available systems. The first one employs non-entangled photons as flying qubits in the dark quantum channel for communication whereas the second one utilizes the entangled photon pairs to secretly share the cryptographic key. Applying standard methods of the statistical data analysis to the characteristic indicators of the quality of the QKD communication (the raw key exchange rate [RKER] and the quantum bit error rate [QBER]), we have estimated the pace of the self-decalibration of both systems and the repeatability rate in the case of controlled worsening of the dark channel quality.

Quantum generators of random numbers

“…Such sequences are crucial in IT security implementations, e.g. cryptographic techniques (both classical 32 , 33 and quantum 34 – 36 ), in numerical mathematical calculations and simulations (mainly in Monte Carlo calculations) 37 , 38 , in physical tests 18 , in games and lotteries etc. The available numeric routines only generate pseudorandom bit sequences.…”

“…Hardware realization of QRNG meets with growing needs to implement advanced cryptosystems (including Quantum Key Distribution systems 34 – 36 , 53 ) for future Internet and communication security. QRNGs will be in near future built-in personal computers and even in mobile devices.…”