On the problem of authentication in a quantum protocol to detect traffic analysis
Recently, a basic design for a quantum protocol to detect a perpetual traffic analysis of a communication channel has been proposed(1). As it stands, this protocol does not take the problem of authentication into account. We show that a 'standard' authentication procedure does not apply in this context, as the attacker is only interested in the number of transmitted bits. Moreover, we demonstrate how to use a one-time pad like construction for solving this authentication problem.
authentication traffic analysis quantum cryptography