Mapas de Shannon-Kotel’nikov na distribuição quântica de chaves com variáveis contínuas.

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols allow two parties, Alice and Bob, to share a secret key that may be used for cryptographic purposes. The security of QKD is based on quantum mechanics properties instead of computational assumptions. In continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD), the information is encoded in the quadrature amplitudes of the quantized electromagnetic field. When QKD is implemented with continuous variables, hardware components are much simpler than their discrete variables equivalents. This is mainly due to homodyne detection instead of photon detection. After measuring the transmitted states, it is still necessary to carry out a classical processing stage known as information reconciliation. This stage allows Alice and Bob to share a common sequence of bits. In order to deploy CVQKD over reasonable distances (over 30 km), reconciliation must be done at high efficiencies (over 90%). However, such high efficiencies for low SNRs (signal-to-noise ratio) require long length classical codes and are difficult to be reached. In this thesis, we propose to use Shannon-Kotel’nikov maps for preparing quantum states in CVQKD. By using these maps, it is possible to increase the SNR between Alice and Bob, without increasing Alice’s variance. Thus, reconciliation becomes easier because higher reconciliation efficiencies are more easily reached for higher SNRs. The contributions of this theses are: the proposal of a CVQKD protocol; the statement of a simulation scenario; the analysis of the proposed protocol for two kinds of maps (uniform Archimedes’ spiral and geodesic curves on a flat torus).