Lattice-based access authentication scheme for quantum communication networks

Access authentication scheme plays a foundational role in ensuring the security of communication networks. However, an access authentication scheme with high security and efficiency is still lacking in quantum communication networks. In this paper, we propose a lattice-based access authentication scheme for quantum communication networks in the manner of real-time interaction with the network control center, which could achieve properties of mutual authentication, conditional anonymity, data confidentiality, unforgeability, undeniability, and data integrity. We utilize the digital signature algorithm CRYSTALS-Dilithium and the key-establishment algorithm CRYSTALS-KYBER, both of which have been selected for standardization by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to realize secure access authentication for users of the quantum communication networks. Specifically, in the quantum secure direct communication network, key-establishment is replaced by the verification of signatures encoded in quantum states. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a quantum-secure communication network.