Simulating the BB84 protocol : tracking eavesdropping in noisy quantum channel : finding Eve

Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an important aspect of cybersecurity in the advent of Quantum Computers. In this project a BB84 protocol with a noisy quantum channel and an eavesdropper is simulated in python. This simulation is validated by comparing the results with literature, then used to investigate whether the location of an eavesdropper on the quantum channel can be determined through noise. The results indicate that the qubit error rate cannot determine an eavesdropper’s distance. Although the eavesdropper could take this into account if they are aware of the channel properties as well.