Increasing Interference Detection in Quantum Cryptography using the Quantum Fourier Transform

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum message encryption protocols promise a secure way to distribute information while detecting eavesdropping. However, current protocols may suffer from significantly reduced eavesdropping protection when only a subset of qubits are observed by an attacker. In this paper, we present two quantum cryptographic protocols leveraging the quantum Fourier transform (QFT) and show their higher effectiveness even when an attacker measures only a subset of the transmitted qubits. The foremost of these protocols is a novel QKD method that leverages this effectiveness of the QFT while being more practical than previously proposed QFT-based protocols, most notably by not relying on quantum memory. We additionally show how existing quantum encryption methods can be augmented with a QFT-based approach to improve eavesdropping detection. Finally, we provide equations to analyze different QFT-based detection schemes within these protocols so that protocol designers can make custom schemes for their purpose.

19 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted to the Future of Information and Communication Conference (FICC) 2025

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