K08: a generalized BB84/B92 protocol in quantum cryptography

Abstract

AbstractModern optical networks transport aggregate traffic that exceeds 1 Tbps per single fiber. Thus, the next generation backbone and access optical network will be able to transport to/from residential and enterprise customers multi‐protocol diverse payloads, such as voice, video, music, text, interactive games, surveillance, business transactions, and more at broadband rates (several Mbps) thus solving the first/last mile. Because of the diverse payload to the enterprise and to the residential customers, an opportunity is presented for malicious attacks to the network in order to copy, destroy or alter data, mimic a source, and in general to engage in unauthorized activities that jeopardize the optical communications security at the information, the node, and the physical layer. To combat this, strong cipher methods and advanced key distribution methods have been developed, in addition to intruder detection and localization, source authentication, channel signature identification, and also countermeasure strategies. Because some cryptographic methods have been found to have vulnerabilities, new methods based on quantum mechanical principles have been deployed promising the [holy grail] of cryptography and of network security. The first protocol in quantum cryptography was the BB84, which however did not take advantage of the full potential of multiple superposition states. In this paper, we review quantum cryptography, we review the BB84 protocol, and we present an m‐ary generalized protocol, the K08, which is based on multiple random polarization states. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.