Quantum Logic Locking for Security

Abstract

Having access to a unique quantum circuit that one wants to protect against use by others is a very likely scenario in industrial computing. However, currently, users rely on classical computer security schemes, which have known shortcomings. In this paper, we introduce a novel protection scheme along with a survey of other known methods to protect quantum information. In particular, we review physically unclonable functions (PUFs), obfuscation, and introduce quantum logic locking (QLL). The latter technique provisions end users to protect their circuit from an adversary through the use of a secret key.