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Faithful and secure distributed quantum sensing under general-coherent attacks

G. Bizzarri, M. Barbieri, M. Manrique, M. Parisi, F. Bruni, I. Gianani, M. Rosati

TL;DR

Addresses faithful and secure distributed quantum sensing under general-coherent attacks. It develops a unifying theoretical framework supporting both entanglement-based and mutually unbiased bases formulations and defines faithfulness (tampering resilience) and security (information leakage). It proves robustness against collective attacks via a LOCC de Finetti approach and analyzes one-way and two-way protocols with a safety-threshold mechanism. A photonic implementation demonstrates faithfulness in practice but reveals a potential bias penalty when enforcing the safety threshold, highlighting practical trade-offs. Overall, the work advances practical, private quantum sensing networks with provable security under realistic noise and attack models.

Abstract

Quantum metrology and cryptography can be combined in a distributed and/or remote sensing setting, where distant end-users with limited quantum capabilities can employ quantum states, transmitted by a quantum-powerful provider via a quantum network, to perform quantum-enhanced parameter estimation in a private fashion. Previous works on the subject have been limited by restricted assumptions on the capabilities of a potential eavesdropper and the use of abort-based protocols that prevent a simple practical realization. Here we introduce, theoretically analyze, and experimentally demonstrate single- and two-way protocols for distributed sensing combining several unique and desirable features: (i) a safety-threshold mechanism that allows the protocol to proceed in low-noise cases and quantifying the potential tampering with respect to the ideal estimation procedure, effectively paving the way for wide-spread practical realizations; (ii) equivalence of entanglement-based and mutually-unbiased-bases-based formulations; (iii) robustness against collective attacks via a LOCC-de-Finetti theorem, for the first time to our knowledge. Finally, we demonstrate our protocols in a photonic-based implementation, observing that the possibility of guaranteeing a safety threshold may come at a significant price in terms of the estimation bias, potentially overestimating the effect of tampering in practical settings.

Faithful and secure distributed quantum sensing under general-coherent attacks

TL;DR

Addresses faithful and secure distributed quantum sensing under general-coherent attacks. It develops a unifying theoretical framework supporting both entanglement-based and mutually unbiased bases formulations and defines faithfulness (tampering resilience) and security (information leakage). It proves robustness against collective attacks via a LOCC de Finetti approach and analyzes one-way and two-way protocols with a safety-threshold mechanism. A photonic implementation demonstrates faithfulness in practice but reveals a potential bias penalty when enforcing the safety threshold, highlighting practical trade-offs. Overall, the work advances practical, private quantum sensing networks with provable security under realistic noise and attack models.

Abstract

Quantum metrology and cryptography can be combined in a distributed and/or remote sensing setting, where distant end-users with limited quantum capabilities can employ quantum states, transmitted by a quantum-powerful provider via a quantum network, to perform quantum-enhanced parameter estimation in a private fashion. Previous works on the subject have been limited by restricted assumptions on the capabilities of a potential eavesdropper and the use of abort-based protocols that prevent a simple practical realization. Here we introduce, theoretically analyze, and experimentally demonstrate single- and two-way protocols for distributed sensing combining several unique and desirable features: (i) a safety-threshold mechanism that allows the protocol to proceed in low-noise cases and quantifying the potential tampering with respect to the ideal estimation procedure, effectively paving the way for wide-spread practical realizations; (ii) equivalence of entanglement-based and mutually-unbiased-bases-based formulations; (iii) robustness against collective attacks via a LOCC-de-Finetti theorem, for the first time to our knowledge. Finally, we demonstrate our protocols in a photonic-based implementation, observing that the possibility of guaranteeing a safety threshold may come at a significant price in terms of the estimation bias, potentially overestimating the effect of tampering in practical settings.
Paper Structure (4 sections, 1 equation, 1 figure, 1 table, 1 algorithm)

This paper contains 4 sections, 1 equation, 1 figure, 1 table, 1 algorithm.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Related works
  3. Theoretical framework
  4. Setting and notation

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Depiction of the general DQS setting we consider. A provider Alice prepares quantum probe states and sends them to Bob, in order to estimate a parameter $\phi$ at a remote location. The transmission takes place on a quantum channel potentially controlled by a malicious adversary Eve, who can try to: (i) tamper with the probe in order to compromise the estimation; (ii) leak information in order to estimate the phase herself. (a) In the single-way setting, Bob can perform a quantum measurement at his location. (b) In the two-way setting, Bob is a passive party with no measurement capabilities, hence the quantum state has to travel back to Alice after the parameter-encoding stage.