Quantum authentication

Quantum authentication is the sub-field of quantum cryptography that aims to apply quantum information theory for the purpose of authentication of quantum messages, users or devices. Counterintuitively, it refers to a different problem from the authentication of the classical channel assumed in QKD protocols, which doesn't natively require quantum resources.

A number of authentication protocols have been proposed since the advent of quantum cryptography, often inspired by quantum key distribution counterparts. Ongoing research aims to both design new schemes and experimentally implement already proposed ones, as the technologies needed are mostly still under development.