A Survey of the Prominent Quantum Key Distribution Protocols

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of quantum key distribution targeted towards the computer science community. A brief description of the relevant principles from quantum mechanics is provided before surveying the most prominent quantum key distribution protocols present in the literature. In particular this paper describes the BB84 protocol and its many variants as well as Eckert's approach through quantum entanglement. A brief discussion of some of the issues arising in practical implementations are also presented including privacy amplification and the photon number splitting attack.

Keywords: Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Key Distribution, QKD, survey, BB84, Eckert, Bennet, Brassard, photon number splitting attack, PNS, privacy amplification.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Fundamentals of Quantum Cryptography
  • 2.1 Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
  • 2.2 Quantum Entanglement
• 3. Protocols Utilizing Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
  
  • 3.1 BB84 Protocol
  • 3.2 B92 Protocol
  • 3.3 Other Variants
• 4. Protocols Utilizing Quantum Entanglement
  
  • 4.1 Eckert's Protocol
  • 4.2 Entangled BB84 Variants
• 5. Practical Security Concerins in QKD
  • 5.1 QKD with Noisy Channels - Privacy Amplification
  • 5.2 QKD with Practical Equipment - PNS Attack
• 6. Summary
• 7. References
• 8. List of Acronyms

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