Generalized Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise (KLJN) secure key exchange system using arbitrary resistors
This offers a practical, low-cost classical alternative to quantum key distribution for secure communication, though it appears incremental as it builds on the existing KLJN framework.
The paper tackles the problem of secure key exchange by generalizing the Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise (KLJN) system to use arbitrary resistors, showing it provides unconditional security with less limitations, as confirmed by numerical simulations.
The Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise (KLJN) secure key exchange system has been introduced as a simple, very low cost and efficient classical physical alternative to quantum key distribution systems. The ideal system uses only a few electronic components - identical resistor pairs, switches and interconnecting wires - to guarantee perfectly protected data transmission. We show that a generalized KLJN system can provide unconditional security even if it is used with significantly less limitations. The more universal conditions ease practical realizations considerably and support more robust protection against attacks. Our theoretical results are confirmed by numerical simulations.