Quantum key distribution as a quantum machine learning task

Abstract We propose considering Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols as a use case for Quantum Machine Learning (QML) algorithms. We define and investigate the QML task of optimizing eavesdropping attacks on the quantum circuit implementation of the BB84 protocol. QKD protocols are well understo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Decker, Marcelin Gallezot, Sven Florian Kerstan, Alessio Paesano, Anke Ginter, Wadim Wormsbecher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Quantum Information
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-025-01088-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract We propose considering Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols as a use case for Quantum Machine Learning (QML) algorithms. We define and investigate the QML task of optimizing eavesdropping attacks on the quantum circuit implementation of the BB84 protocol. QKD protocols are well understood and solid security proofs exist enabling an easy evaluation of the QML model performance. The power of easy-to-implement QML techniques is shown by finding the explicit circuit for optimal individual attacks in a noise-free setting. For the noisy setting we find, to the best of our knowledge, a new cloning algorithm, which can outperform known cloning methods. Finally, we present a QML construction of a collective attack by using classical information from QKD post-processing within the QML algorithm.
ISSN:2056-6387