A Quantum Key Distribution Protocol for qudits with better noise resistance

Abstract: The Ekert quantum key distribution protocol uses pairs of entangled qubits and performs checks based on a Bell inequality to detect eavesdropping. The N-DEB protocol uses instead pairs of entangled qudits to achieve better noise resistance than the Ekert protocol. It performs checks based on the Bell CGLMP inequality for qudits. In this paper, we present the generalization for qudits of our protocol h3DEB (for qutrits). This protocol also uses pairs of entangled qudits, but achieves even better noise resistance than N-DEB and is showed to be secure against the same family of cloning attacks than N-DEB. This gain of performance is obtained by using another inequality called here hCHSH-$d$. For each party, the hCHSH-$d$ inequality involves $2d$ observables. We explain how the parties can measure these observables and thus are able to check the violation of hCHSH-$d$. In the presence of noise, this violation allows the parties to ensure the secrecy of the key because it guarantees the absence of a local Trojan horse attack. The advantage of our proposed scheme is that it results in an increased resistance to noise while remaining secure against individual attacks.