An Adversarial Quantum Key Distribution Project

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: La Cour, Brian R., Davis, Noah A.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author La Cour, Brian R.
Davis, Noah A.
author_facet La Cour, Brian R.
Davis, Noah A.
contents Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a popular introduction to quantum technologies used in education and public outreach, as very little background in quantum theory is needed and the practical applications are easily understood. There is considerably less exposure to the many real-world considerations of practical QKD, as access to the necessary hardware is quite limited. Here we describe a simple, simulation-based QKD project that can be implemented with only a minimal background in quantum concepts and programming. Students are assembled in small groups to develop an ``Alice and Bob'' protocol for securely distributing symmetric keys in a simulated noisy channel. Their protocol is then shared anonymously with another group who plays the role of Eve and attempts to steal as much secret key as possible. The adversarial aspect is popular with students, and the project itself provides a deeper understanding and appreciation for practical QKD.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_13389
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An Adversarial Quantum Key Distribution Project
La Cour, Brian R.
Davis, Noah A.
Physics Education
Quantum Physics
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a popular introduction to quantum technologies used in education and public outreach, as very little background in quantum theory is needed and the practical applications are easily understood. There is considerably less exposure to the many real-world considerations of practical QKD, as access to the necessary hardware is quite limited. Here we describe a simple, simulation-based QKD project that can be implemented with only a minimal background in quantum concepts and programming. Students are assembled in small groups to develop an ``Alice and Bob'' protocol for securely distributing symmetric keys in a simulated noisy channel. Their protocol is then shared anonymously with another group who plays the role of Eve and attempts to steal as much secret key as possible. The adversarial aspect is popular with students, and the project itself provides a deeper understanding and appreciation for practical QKD.
title An Adversarial Quantum Key Distribution Project
topic Physics Education
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.13389