On the security of quantum networks: A proposal framework and its capacity

Abstract

In large Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)-based networks, intermediate nodes are necessary because of the short length of QKD links. They have tendency to be used more than classical networks. A realistic assumption is that there are eavesdropping operations in these nodes without knowledge of legitimate network participants. We develop a QKD-based network framework. We present a percolation-based approach to discuss about conditions of extremely high secret key transmission. We propose also an adaptive stochastic routing algorithm that helps on protecting keys from reasonable eavesdroppers in a dense QKD network. We show that under some assumptions, one could prevent eavesdroppers from sniffing the secrets with an arbitrarily large probability © 2007 Springer.