https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02139-8
Regular Article
Emulation of the six-state quantum key distribution protocol with pulsed lasers
1
Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
2
School of Electrical Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
3
Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
a
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Received:
5
November
2025
Accepted:
13
January
2026
Published online:
2
February
2026
Abstract
Quantum cryptography remains a topic of enduring scientific and educational interest. Here, we present a clear and accessible framework for exploring the six-state quantum key distribution protocol—an enhanced, three-basis extension of the BB84 scheme, combining optical experiments with computational analysis. Designed for testing quantum communication protocols through emulation, this approach provides an accessible, laboratory-scale platform that highlights the fundamental principles of multi-basis encoding and demonstrates how experimental measurements connect directly to theoretical expectations in a controlled tabletop setting.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
