Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the first quantum information task to reach the level of mature technology, already fit for commercialization. It aims at the creation of a secret key between authorized partners connected by a quantum channel and a classical authenticated channel. The security of the key can in principle be guaranteed without putting any restriction on the eavesdropper's power. The first two sections provide a concise up-to-date review of QKD, biased toward the practical side. The rest of the paper presents the essential theoretical tools that have been developed to assess the security of the main experimental platforms (discrete variables, continuous variables and distributed-phase-reference protocols).
@article{arxiv.0802.4155,
title = {The Security of Practical Quantum Key Distribution},
author = {Valerio Scarani and Helle Bechmann-Pasquinucci and Nicolas J. Cerf and Miloslav Dusek and Norbert Lutkenhaus and Momtchil Peev},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0802.4155},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Identical to the published version, up to cosmetic editorial changes