Quantum Authentication Readout Techniques for Photonic PUFs

A complement to existing quantum security methods

Unlike purely mathematical approaches such as Post-Quantum Cryptography, photonic PUF authentication cannot be compromised by advances in computing power. Unlike pre-shared key schemes, it scales to dynamic networks through public challenge-response databases without requiring secure key exchange in advance. And unlike purely digital credentials, the physical chip must be present to authenticate, making silent credential theft impossible. These properties make photonic PUFs a uniquely powerful complement to Quantum Key Distribution in securing emerging quantum networks.

The right technique for every deployment

Fully realising these guarantees in practice requires choosing the right readout technique for each situation. Different readout approaches vary fundamentally in the level of quantum security they can provide, and real-world deployment conditions, including loss, noise, and timing constraints on long-distance fibre, satellite links, or datacentre interconnects, determine which approaches can deliver their full security potential. A central question is therefore whether one approach proves universally optimal, or whether different deployment settings call for different techniques, and if so, which.

Systematic exploration by QSA and TU/e

QUARTET maps this solution space systematically, combining experimental investigation at QSA Technology's optical laboratory with rigorous security analysis at TU/e. Together they evaluate candidate techniques against explicit security and implementation criteria, producing a principled framework for selecting readout methods that are both physically appropriate and formally proven secure for each deployment scenario.