Exposed-key weakness of $\alpha \eta$

Abstract

The $\alpha \eta$ protocol given by Barbosa \emph{et al.}, PRL 90, 227901 (2003) claims to be a secure way of encrypting messages using mesoscopic coherent states. We show that transmission under $\alpha \eta$ exposes information about the secret key to an eavesdropper, and we estimate the rate at which an eavesdropper can learn about the key. We also consider the consequences of using further randomization to protect the key and how our analysis applies to this case. We conclude that $\alpha \eta$ is not informationally secure.