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Tripartite Layered Quantum Key Distribution Scheme with a Symmetrical Key Structure

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Abstract

Asymmetric entanglement could provide a crucial layered key structure for quantum cryptography. A new symmetrical tripartite quantum key distribution scheme based on the simplest layered quantum key distribution (L-QKD) model is devised. With an interesting rotational symmetrical key distribution scheme, the proposed tripartite QKD protocol could establish a more integrated key system, which expands the number of conference keys for secure broadcast and distribute layered secret keys among any legitimate participants simultaneously. The proposed scheme is more flexible, robust and efficient to guarantee the fairness among communication parties than the original L-QKD protocol, and our scheme also could be applied to encryption in the butterfly network precisely. Moreover, based on three asymmetric (4, 4, 2) entangled state, a novel symmetric (4, 4, 4) entangled state to implement L-QKD scheme is discussed. Finally, the security of L-QKD scheme is analyzed via information-theoretic proof.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions that help improve the quality of this manuscript. This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61871205 and 61561033), the China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201606825042), the Major Academic Discipline and Technical Leader of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. 20162BCB22011), and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. 20171BAB202002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China

    **ao-Hao Zhang

  2. Department of Electronic Information Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China

    **ng-Yu Yan, Yun-Qian Wang & Li-Hua Gong

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  1. **ao-Hao Zhang
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  2. **ng-Yu Yan
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Correspondence to Li-Hua Gong.

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Zhang, XH., Yan, XY., Wang, YQ. et al. Tripartite Layered Quantum Key Distribution Scheme with a Symmetrical Key Structure. Int J Theor Phys 59, 562–573 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10773-019-04349-4

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