Secure authentication via Quantum Physical Unclonable Functions: a review

2025/08/12 by Farré, Pol Julià, Galetsky, Vladlen, Belhassen, Mohamed +6
#FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2508.09296

Abstract

Quantum Physical Unclonable Functions (QPUFs) offer a physically grounded approach to secure authentication, extending the capabilities of classical PUFs. This review covers their theoretical foundations and key implementation challenges - such as quantum memories and Haar-randomness -, and distinguishes QPUFs from Quantum Readout PUFs (QR-PUFs), more experimentally accessible yet less robust against quantum-capable adversaries. A co-citation-based selection method is employed to trace the evolution of QPUF architectures, from early QR-PUFs to more recent Hybrid PUFs (HPUFs). This method further supports a discussion on the role of information-theoretic analysis in mitigating inconsistencies in QPUF responses, underscoring the deep connection between secret-key generation and authentication. Despite notable advances, achieving practical and robust QPUF-based authentication remains an open challenge.

Citations

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Related

• Building Trust in the Quantum Cloud with Physical Unclonable Functions
• Hybrid Authentication Protocols for Advanced Quantum Networks
• Physical Security in the Post-quantum Era: A Survey on Side-channel Analysis, Random Number Generators, and Physically Unclonable Functions
• Non-unitary Quantum Physical Unclonable Functions: Modelling, Simulation, and Evaluation under Open Quantum Dynamics
• Efficient Construction of Quantum Physical Unclonable Functions with Unitary t-designs