Published April 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Comment on ''Semiquantum-key distribution using less than four quantum states''

  • 1. Departement IRO, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7 (Canada)
  • 2. Computer Science Department, Technion, Haifa 32000 (Israel)

Description

For several decades it was believed that information-secure key distribution requires both the sender and receiver to have the ability to generate and/or manipulate quantum states. Earlier, we showed that quantum key distribution in which one party is classical is possible [Boyer, Kenigsberg, and Mor, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 140501 (2007)]. A surprising and very nice extension of that result was suggested by Zou, Qiu, Li, Wu, and Li [Phys. Rev. A 79, 052312 (2009)]. Their paper suggests that it is sufficient for the originator of the states (the person holding the quantum technology) to generate just one state. The resulting semiquantum key distribution, which we call here 'quantum key distribution with classical Alice' is indeed completely robust against eavesdropping. However, their proof (that no eavesdropper can get information without being possibly detected) is faulty. We provide here a fully detailed and direct proof of their very important result.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
83
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 046301-046301.2
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43023832
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
INFORMATION; QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY; QUANTUM STATES
Descriptors DEC
CRYPTOGRAPHY

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2011 American Institute of Physics