Quantum-noise randomized ciphers
- Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 (United States)
We review the notion of a classical random cipher and its advantages. We sharpen the usual description of random ciphers to a particular mathematical characterization suggested by the salient feature responsible for their increased security. We describe a concrete system known as {alpha}{eta} and show that it is equivalent to a random cipher in which the required randomization is affected by coherent-state quantum noise. We describe the currently known security features of {alpha}{eta} and similar systems, including lower bounds on the unicity distances against ciphertext-only and known-plaintext attacks. We show how {alpha}{eta} used in conjunction with any standard stream cipher such as the Advanced Encryption Standard provides an additional, qualitatively different layer of security from physical encryption against known-plaintext attacks on the key. We refute some claims in the literature that {alpha}{eta} is equivalent to a nonrandom stream cipher.
- OSTI ID:
- 20974700
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. A, Vol. 74, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.74.052309; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Quantum stream cipher by the Yuen 2000 protocol: Design and experiment by an intensity-modulation scheme
Practical security analysis of a quantum stream cipher by the Yuen 2000 protocol