A game-theoretic security framework for quantum cryptography: Performance analysis and application

• Published in: Quantum information processing Vol. 19; no. 10
• Main Authors: Han, Songyang, Krawec, Walter O., Miao, Fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-10-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Data Structures and Information Theory; Game theory; Mathematical Physics; Noise tolerance; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Computing; Quantum cryptography; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Spintronics; Game Theory; Quantum Key Distribution; Security; Quantum Cryptography
• ISSN: 1570-0755; 1573-1332
• DOI: 10.1007/s11128-020-02861-9

In this paper, we analyze quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols through a game-theoretic framework. In particular, we assume parties and adversaries are “rational.” Unlike other game theoretic models, we show how important key-rate and noise tolerance computations may be performed through our system allowing for interesting comparisons to the “standard adversarial model” of QKD. We show that, depending on the relative cost of operating devices, increased noise tolerance and improved secure communication rates are possible if one assumes adversaries are rational as opposed to being malicious.