Quantum private comparison protocol based on entanglement swapping of $$d$$ -level Bell states

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a quantum private comparison protocol based on entanglement swapping, where two distrustful parties can compare the values of their secrets with the help of a semi-trusted third party. The protocol can determine not only whether two secrets are equal, but also the size relationship between them. The two parties can deduce the comparison result based on the keys shared between them and the announcement of the third party. Others including the third party will learn nothing about the values of the secrets, as well as the comparison result. The security of our protocol is analyzed. Furthermore, all the particles can be reused in the same protocol model theoretically. So our protocol is efficient and feasible to expand in network service, which in turn gives a solution to the left problem in Lin et al. (Quantum Inf Process, doi: 10.1007/s11128-012-0395-6 , 2012).