A Proof of the Security of Quantum Key Distribution

• DOI: 10.1007/s00145-005-0011-3
• Publication Date: 2006-04-11T20:37:20Z
• Authors: Eli Biham; Michel Boyer; P. Oscar Boykin; Tal Mor; Vwani Roychowdhury
• Keywords: FOS: Computer and information sciences; Quantum Physics; Computer Science - Cryptography and Security; Computer Science - Information Theory; Information Theory (cs.IT); FOS: Physical sciences; 0102 computer and information sciences; 01 natural sciences; 0103 physical sciences; Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Cryptography and Security (cs.CR)

We prove the security of quantum key distribution against the most general attacks which can be performed on the channel, by an eavesdropper who has unlimited computation abilities, and the full power allowed by the rules of classical and quantum physics. A key created that way can then be used to transmit secure messages in a way that their security is also unaffected in the future.