Complete security analysis of {quantum key distribution} based on unified model of sequential discrimination strategy

Abstract: The quantum key distribution for multiparty is one of the essential subjects of study. Especially, without using entangled states, performing the quantum key distribution for multiparty is a critical area of research. For this purpose, sequential discrimination, which provides multiparty quantum communication and quantum key distribution for {multiple receivers}, has recently been introduced. However, since there is a possibility of eavesdropping on the measurement result of a receiver by an intruder using quantum entanglement, a security analysis for {quantum key distribution} should be performed. {However,} no one has provided the security analysis for {quantum key distribution in view of the sequential scheme} yet. In this work, by proposing a unified model of sequential discrimination including an eavesdropper, we provide the security analysis of {quantum key distribution based on the unified model of sequential discrimination strategy.} In this model, the success probability of eavesdropping and the secret key rate can be used as a figure of merit. Then, we obtain a non-zero secret key rate between the sender and receiver, which implies that the sender and receiver can share a secret key despite eavesdropping. Further, we propose a realistic quantum optical experiment for the proposed model. We observe that the secret key between the sender and receiver can be non-zero, even with imperfections. As opposed to common belief, we further observe that the success probability of eavesdropping is smaller in the case of colored noise than in the case of white noise.