Two-Way Quantum Number Distribution Based on Entanglement and Bell-State Measurements

Abstract

A scheme is proposed by which two parties, Alice and Bob, can securely exchange real numbers. The scheme requires Alice and Bob to share entanglement and both to perform Bell-state measurements. With a qubit system two real numbers can each be sent by Alice and Bob, resulting in four real numbers shared by them. The number of real numbers that can be shared increases if higher-dimensional systems are utilized. The number of significant figures of each shared real number depends upon the number of Bell-state measurements that Alice and Bob perform. The security of the scheme against individual eavesdropping attacks is analyzed and the effects of channel losses and errors discussed.