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Comparison and analysis of BB84 and E91 Quantum Cryptography Protocols security strengths
  • Miguel Trigo
Miguel Trigo

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

This research performs the comparison and analysis of BB84 and E91 Quantum Cryptography Security Protocols. In order to achieve this objective a prototype which consists of traditional (non-quantum) simulators was created, one for BB84 protocol and another for the E91. The principles of Quantum Mechanics were studied, as the foundation of Quantum Computing and Cryptography, focusing mainly on the BB84 and E91 protocols, which are Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). With the aim of comparing both protocols, tests with both simulators in different network environments were conducted, using different initial key length, capturing the required time and final length of the obtained key. The results showed that BB84 protocol converges at a 50% of the initial key, for keys which are higher than 265 initial bits, the percentage matches the expected theory. Whereas E91 protocol is approximated to 22% of the initial key for those which are higher than 64 initial bits, which does not match the 33% theoretically expected. Therefore, E91 protocol is considered to be safer, however it faces some technical difficulties, specifically with the Quantum entanglement principle.