Implementation Challenges in Quantum Key Distribution

2026-02-02

AI Summary

This study addresses the practical challenges of deploying quantum key distribution (QKD) on real quantum hardware by systematically implementing the BB84 and E91 protocols on the IBM Quantum platform. The work introduces an innovative approach using SX gates to efficiently generate uniform superposition states, leveraging quantum entanglement and superposition to ensure key security. Experimental validation is performed through metrics including quantum bit error rate, Shannon entropy, and independent and identically distributed (IID) assumptions, demonstrating the feasibility and eavesdropping resistance of both protocols on current noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices. The results provide empirical support and technical insights for the practical realization of QKD in real-world quantum systems.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Plan Execution and Monitoring

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: LLM based quality controls for crowd work

Abstract

In recent years, quantum computing technologies have steadily matured and have begun to find practical applications across various domains. One important area is network communication security, where Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables communicating parties to establish a shared secret that can then be used to generate symmetric keys for subsequent encryption and decryption. This study focuses on implementing and comparing two well-known QKD protocols, namely BB84 and E91, within an actual quantum computing environment. It also proposes the use of SX gate operations to generate uniform quantum superposition states. By leveraging the properties of quantum superposition and quantum entanglement, the study illustrates how communicating parties can securely obtain a shared secret while preventing adversaries from intercepting it. The experiments are conducted using the IBM Quantum Platform to demonstrate the feasibility of the BB84 and E91 protocols on actual quantum hardware. The evaluation considers several metrics, including entropy, Independent and Identically Distributed (IID), and error-rate verifications.

Problem

• Quantum Key Distribution
• Implementation Challenges
• BB84
• E91
• Quantum Computing

Innovation

• Quantum Key Distribution
• SX gate
• quantum superposition
• entanglement-based QKD
• IBM Quantum Platform