Quantum-augmented networks aim to use quantum phenomena to improve detection and protection against malicious actors in a classical communication network. This may include multiplexing quantum signals into classical fiber optical channels and incorporating purely quantum links alongside classical links in the network. In such hybrid networks, quantum protocols based on single photons become a bottleneck for transmission distances and data speeds, thereby reducing entire network performance. Furthermore, many of the security assumptions of the single-photon protocols do not hold up in practice because of the impossibility of manufacturing single-photon emitters. Multi-photon quantum protocols, on the other hand, are designed to operate under practical assumptions and do not require single photon emitters. As a result, they provide higher levels of security guarantees and longer transmission distances. However, the effect of channel and device noise on multiphoton protocols in terms of security, transmission distances, and bit rates has not been investigated. In this paper, we focus on channel noise and present our observations on the effect of various types of noise on multi-photon protocols. We also investigate the effect of topologies such as ring, star, and torus on the noise characteristics of the multi-photon protocols. Our results show the possible advantages of switching to multi-photon protocols and give insights into the repeater placement and topology choice for quantum-augmented networks.
Multi-photon quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols can use non-ideal photon emitters and yet stay secure. As a result, they are advantageous over other single photon prepare and measure QKD schemes. However, their effectiveness has not yet been evaluated in different network topologies. In this paper, we compare the achievable key rates and transmission distances of the three-stage multi-photon QKD protocol to the commonly implemented decoy state and E91 protocols in different network topologies. We also describe the security implications of each protocol especially in relation to a photon number splitting attack against multi-photon sources. Our simulations offer insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each protocol and various trade-offs when using these QKD protocols in different network topologies.
In this paper, we propose the use of multi-photon quantum cryptography to provide higher data exchange rates and security in quantum networks. We investigate different routing strategies and their effects on key rates, path establishment probabilities, and security. Our simulation varies parameters such as the network size, topology, length of fiber channels, and probability of channel decoherence. Lastly, we also examine the effect of including a trusted nodes in the network and examine the key-rates under different routing strategies.
This paper proposes a modification to, BB84 style, prepare and measure quantum key distribution schemes in order to make them resistant to photon number splitting attacks in multi-photon implementations. Therefore, brighter laser pulses can be used for key transmission potentially increasing the key rate and transmission distances without the need of a repeater. Our proposal assumes a small amount of pre-shared secret information between the communicating parties similar to that used for authentication.
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