OPAQUE: Obfuscating Phase in Quantum Circuit Compilation for Efficient IP Protection

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Rehman, Anees, Langford, Vincent, Liu, Yuntao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Rehman, Anees
Langford, Vincent
Liu, Yuntao
author_facet Rehman, Anees
Langford, Vincent
Liu, Yuntao
contents Quantum compilers play a crucial role in quantum computing by converting these algorithmic quantum circuits into forms compatible with specific quantum computer hardware. However, untrusted quantum compilers present considerable risks, including the potential theft of quantum circuit intellectual property (IP) and compromise of the functionality (e.g. Trojan insertion). Quantum circuit obfuscation techniques protect quantum IP by transforming a quantum circuit into a key-dependent version before compilation and restoring the compiled circuit's functionality with the correct key. This prevents the untrusted compiler from knowing the circuit's original functionality. Existing quantum circuit obfuscation techniques focus on inserting key qubits to control key gates. One added key gate can represent at most one Boolean key bit. In this paper, we propose OPAQUE, a phase-based quantum circuit obfuscation approach where we use the angle of rotation gates as the secret keys. The rotation angle is a continuous value, which makes it possible to represent multiple key bits. Moreover, phase gates are usually implemented as virtual gates in quantum hardware, diminishing their cost and impact on accuracy.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_16605
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle OPAQUE: Obfuscating Phase in Quantum Circuit Compilation for Efficient IP Protection
Rehman, Anees
Langford, Vincent
Liu, Yuntao
Quantum Physics
Cryptography and Security
Quantum compilers play a crucial role in quantum computing by converting these algorithmic quantum circuits into forms compatible with specific quantum computer hardware. However, untrusted quantum compilers present considerable risks, including the potential theft of quantum circuit intellectual property (IP) and compromise of the functionality (e.g. Trojan insertion). Quantum circuit obfuscation techniques protect quantum IP by transforming a quantum circuit into a key-dependent version before compilation and restoring the compiled circuit's functionality with the correct key. This prevents the untrusted compiler from knowing the circuit's original functionality. Existing quantum circuit obfuscation techniques focus on inserting key qubits to control key gates. One added key gate can represent at most one Boolean key bit. In this paper, we propose OPAQUE, a phase-based quantum circuit obfuscation approach where we use the angle of rotation gates as the secret keys. The rotation angle is a continuous value, which makes it possible to represent multiple key bits. Moreover, phase gates are usually implemented as virtual gates in quantum hardware, diminishing their cost and impact on accuracy.
title OPAQUE: Obfuscating Phase in Quantum Circuit Compilation for Efficient IP Protection
topic Quantum Physics
Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.16605