aiqbench analysis
This paper introduces a modular simulation framework for Coherent-One-Way quantum key distribution that consistently integrates optical device modeling, finite experimental statistics, and security inference. By decoupling physical parameters from security evaluators, the tool enables precise optimization of secure-key rates and robust adversarial testing without conflating underlying assumptions. It represents a significant methodological advance for researchers developing practical QKD protocols and analyzing finite-key security bounds.
Observable-Level Framework for Finite-Key Security in Coherent-One-Way Quantum Key Distribution
arXiv:2610.28239v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Practical security analysis of Coherent-One-Way (COW) quantum key distribution requires optical-device modeling, finite experimental statistics, and security inference to be treated consistently without conflating assumptions. We present a modular observable-level simulation framework organized through the pipeline {\theta}_phys -> p -> O -> S_j(O), in which physical source, channel, receiver, and detector parameters determine detector-resolved event probabilities, a finite-block layer applies an effective dead-time treatment and generates aggregate detector counts, and interchangeable security evaluators act on the same observable record. The framework is verified against analytical optical, virtual-state, and finite-key relations and evaluated against reported experimental COW-QKD operating points. The Kato finite-key calculation reproduces the refined experimentally reported secure-key rates most closely at intermediate distances, with deviations of -1.5% at 50 km and -10.3% at 75 km. Monitoring bright-port decoy counts agree within 0.9-2.4%, while remaining distance-dependent dark-port residual identifies the principal model-sensitive observable of the present physical description. Applying Kato and Azuma-Hoeffding concentration treatments to identical detector records isolates the effect of finite-key statistical inference and shows substantially tighter Kato phase-error bounds for rare-event monitoring records studied here. Holding the Kato evaluator fixed, joint optimization of coherent-state mean photon number mu and receiver splitting fraction t_B increases model-predicted secure-key rate by 7.4-20.2% relative to optimization of mu alone with t_B = 0.3. The framework therefore provides a common computational interface for experimental reproduction, controlled security-model comparison, model-based protocol optimization, and modular adversarial stress testing in COW-QKD.
Abstract:Practical security analysis of Coherent-One-Way (COW) quantum key distribution requires optical-device modeling, finite experimental statistics, and security inference to be treated consistently without conflating assumptions. We present a modular observable-level simulation framework organized through the pipeline {\theta}_phys -> p -> O -> S_j(O), in which physical source, channel, receiver, and detector parameters determine detector-resolved event probabilities, a finite-block layer applies an effective dead-time treatment and generates aggregate detector counts, and interchangeable security evaluators act on the same observable record. The framework is verified against analytical optical, virtual-state, and finite-key relations and evaluated against reported experimental COW-QKD operating points. The Kato finite-key calculation reproduces the refined experimentally reported secure-key rates most closely at intermediate distances, with deviations of -1.5% at 50 km and -10.3% at 75 km. Monitoring bright-port decoy counts agree within 0.9-2.4%, while remaining distance-dependent dark-port residual identifies the principal model-sensitive observable of the present physical description. Applying Kato and Azuma-Hoeffding concentration treatments to identical detector records isolates the effect of finite-key statistical inference and shows substantially tighter Kato phase-error bounds for rare-event monitoring records studied here. Holding the Kato evaluator fixed, joint optimization of coherent-state mean photon number mu and receiver splitting fraction t_B increases model-predicted secure-key rate by 7.4-20.2% relative to optimization of mu alone with t_B = 0.3. The framework therefore provides a common computational interface for experimental reproduction, controlled security-model comparison, model-based protocol optimization, and modular adversarial stress testing in COW-QKD.
Main Article: 9 Pages with 4 Figures. Supplemental Material: 7 Pages with 6 Figures
arXiv:2610.28239 [quant-ph]
(or arXiv:2610.28239v1 [quant-ph] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2610.28239 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
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Full text under the publisher's open licence · 341 words