Experimental realization of three quantum key distribution protocols

Abstract

Classical computers allow security of cryptographic protocols based on the mathematical complexity of encoding functions and the shared key. This implies that high computational power can have a positive outcome in breaking cryptographic protocols that employ classical computers. Quantum machines claim to possess such power. Two parties interested in communicating with each other take up the process of measuring entangled states in order to construct a secret key which is safeguarded against an eavesdropper capable of performing quantum operations. At first, experimental verification of the BB84 protocol using three bases has been performed in this paper, out of which sub-cases have been considered based on whether or not Eve has attempted an attack. The following part includes experimental realization of the B92 protocol which was introduced by Charles Bennett in the year 1992. Possibility of an Eve’s attack is considered and implemented. Succeeding part relies on experimental implementation of the protocol that was introduced by Acin, Massar and Pironio in the year 2006 (New J Phys 8:126, 2006). All the implementations have been done using the IBM Quantum Experience platform.