GS QKD 005-2010 PDF

Scope: Quantum key distribution (QKD) comprises technologies that use quantum mechanical effects to distribute private keys to distant partners. The goals of the present document are as follows: ? to make precise the nature of the security claim@ including its statistical component; ? to list meaningful restrictions of adversarial action; ? to clarify the difference between security claim of a protocol (based on models) and the security claim of its implementation; ? to carefully list all the usual components of a QKD protocol with their critical characterizations. The present document is developed by the QKD ISG group in which participate experts of QKD theory and practice. With the goals identified above@ the present document shall help to: ? clarify the role QKD devices can play in a security infrastructure given the exact nature of their security claim; ? classify QKD devices regarding the security level they can achieve; ? clarify which parameters need to be monitored continuously or periodically to assure the generation of a secret key for the different security levels. On the other hand@ the present document will not try to do the following: ? to give specific parameters for successful QKD as these numbers change with time; ? to endorse particular security proofs.

GS QKD 005-2010 history