Quantum cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing
Abstract
When elementary quantum systems, such as polarized photons, are used to transmit digital information, the uncertainty principle gives rise to novel cryptographic phenomena unachievable with traditional transmission media, e.g. a communications channel on which it is impossible in principle to eavesdrop without a high probability of disturbing the transmission in such a way as to be detected. Such a quantum channel can be used in conjunction with ordinary insecure classical channels to distribute random key information between two users with the assurance that it remains unknown to anyone else, even when the users share no secret information initially. We also present a protocol for coin-tossing by exchange of quantum messages, which is secure against traditional kinds of cheating, even by an opponent with unlimited computing power, but ironically can be subverted by use of a still subtler quantum phenomenon, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2003.06557,
title = {Quantum cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing},
author = {Charles H. Bennett and Gilles Brassard},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2003.06557},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
One cover + 5 pages; 2 figures. This is a best-possible quality scan of the original so-called BB84 paper as it appeared in the Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers, Systems & Signal Processing, Bangalore, India, pp. 175-179, December 1984. The journal reference gives an open-access freshly typeset version prepared on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the original paper