Performance Analysis of a Modified Lightweight Authentication Scheme for Quantum Key Distribution

Abstract

Network applications have become ubiq uitous in today's world, and are accessed through both wired and wireless networks. Therefore, safeguarding the network infrastructure is a necessity and extra precaution has to be taken to ensure that the data is protected from any security breaches, ensuring privacy. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and Quantum Entanglement, two principles of quantum physics that indicate that measuring one thing has an impact on another, are employed as an alternative and novel lightweight authentication methodology for quantum key distribution. The analysis of results for the quantum key generation with and without interception by an eavesdropper is simulated for detection of the eavesdropper and for a sample size of 20, 0.02% chance of being spied upon unknowingly is established which is infinitesimal and ensures the security of the network infrastructure.