[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":286},["ShallowReactive",2],{"publication-2026\u002Fa-survey-on-quantum-key-distribution-foundations-and-future-directions-en":3,"publication-members":53},{"_path":4,"_dir":5,"_draft":6,"_partial":6,"_locale":7,"title":8,"description":9,"_hidden":6,"authors":10,"authors_orcid":16,"year":22,"doi":23,"openalex_id":24,"venue":25,"abstract_screenshot":26,"keywords":27,"body":33,"_type":46,"_id":47,"_source":48,"_file":49,"_stem":50,"_extension":51,"locale":52},"\u002Fpublications\u002F2026\u002Fa-survey-on-quantum-key-distribution-foundations-and-future-directions","2026",false,"","A survey on Quantum Key Distribution: Foundations and future directions","Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a mechanism for ensuring secure key exchange based on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. It has evolved significantly over the past four decades. QKD networks have evolved from experiments to large-scale deployments, enabling longer transmission distances and enhanced security performance. Existing information security relies on modern cryptographic primitives such as Elliptic Curve Diffie–Hellman (ECDH), RSA, and AES. Although AES-256 is considered quantum-resistant, ECDH and RSA cannot withstand attacks by a specific quantum computer. Specifically, with enough quantum bits, Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms can break RSA and ECDH through rapid integer factorization and quantum search capabilities, respectively. Consequently, QKD offers a promising method towards information-theoretic security, using trusted nodes, optical routers, and future quantum repeaters. However, completely replacing current infrastructure with QKD systems is both costly and impractical. Thus, existing QKD can be integrated into current infrastructure, including dark fiber and satellite systems. Previous surveys have primarily focused on isolated aspects such as fiber-based QKD, free-space QKD, or theoretical Internet architectures. There is a lack of a comprehensive survey that simultaneously presents fundamentals, QKD protocols and security, network implementations, and experimental advances. This makes it difficult for readers to grasp the full scope of the field. This survey focuses on QKD from the ground up, covering the essential foundations of QKD, exploring various QKD protocols, concerning different types of attacks, reviewing real-world QKD network deployments, and highlighting challenges and future directions.",[11,12,13,14,15],"Zhang, Ximing","Kar, Pushpendu","Kwong, Chiew Foong","Chieng, David","Guerra-Manzanares, Alejandro",[17,18,19,20,21],"0009-0008-4995-2244","0000-0002-0896-0650","0000-0001-7857-511X","0000-0002-9674-3436","0000-0002-3655-5804",2026,"https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1016\u002Fj.comcom.2026.108652","W7203827868","Computer Communications",null,[28,29,30,31,32],"Key (lock)","Quantum","Quantum key distribution","Quantum information science","Quantum computer",{"type":34,"children":35,"toc":43},"root",[36],{"type":37,"tag":38,"props":39,"children":40},"element","p",{},[41],{"type":42,"value":9},"text",{"title":7,"searchDepth":44,"depth":44,"links":45},2,[],"markdown","content:publications:2026:a-survey-on-quantum-key-distribution-foundations-and-future-directions.md","content","publications\u002F2026\u002Fa-survey-on-quantum-key-distribution-foundations-and-future-directions.md","publications\u002F2026\u002Fa-survey-on-quantum-key-distribution-foundations-and-future-directions","md","en",[54,63,67,73,76,86,90,97,99,107,111,123,127,136,140,147,149,156,158,165,167,174,176,183,185,197,201,210,213,223,227,236,239,247,249,271],{"_path":55,"title":56,"name":57,"role":58,"email":7,"image":59,"category":60,"order":61,"_id":62},"\u002Fmembers\u002Falumni\u002Frui-li","Research Assistant from Oct.,2023 to June.,2024","Rui Li","Research Assistant (Alumni)","\u002Fimages\u002Fdefault.jpg","alumni","17","content:members:alumni:rui-li.md",{"_path":55,"title":64,"role":65,"_id":66},"科研助理，2023 年 10 月至 2024 年 6 月","科研助理（校友）","content:members:alumni:rui-li.zh-CN.md",{"_path":68,"title":69,"name":70,"role":58,"email":7,"image":59,"category":60,"order":71,"_id":72},"\u002Fmembers\u002Falumni\u002Fyuhao-shi","Research Assistant from Feb.,2023 to Nov.,2024","Yuhao Shi","18","content:members:alumni:yuhao-shi.md",{"_path":68,"title":74,"role":65,"_id":75},"科研助理，2023 年 2 月至 2024 年 11 月","content:members:alumni:yuhao-shi.zh-CN.md",{"_path":77,"title":78,"name":79,"role":80,"email":81,"image":82,"category":83,"order":84,"_id":85},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-assistants\u002Fhang-xu","Research Assistant - B.Sc student in Computer Science","Hang Xu","Research Assistant","hang.xu@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fhangxu.jpg","research-assistants","14","content:members:research-assistants:hang-xu.md",{"_path":77,"title":87,"role":88,"_id":89},"科研助理 - 计算机科学本科生","科研助理","content:members:research-assistants:hang-xu.zh-CN.md",{"_path":91,"title":80,"name":92,"role":80,"email":93,"image":94,"category":83,"order":95,"_id":96},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-assistants\u002Fxing-hou","Xing Hou","xing.hou@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fxinghou.png","15","content:members:research-assistants:xing-hou.md",{"_path":91,"title":88,"role":88,"_id":98},"content:members:research-assistants:xing-hou.zh-CN.md",{"_path":100,"title":101,"name":102,"role":103,"email":104,"image":59,"category":83,"order":105,"_id":106},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-assistants\u002Fxiuqi-wang","Intern Research Assistant - B.Sc student in Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering","Xiuqi Wang","Intern Research Assistant","xiuqi.wang@nottingham.edu.cn","16","content:members:research-assistants:xiuqi-wang.md",{"_path":100,"title":108,"role":109,"_id":110},"实习科研助理 - 电气与电子工程系本科生","实习科研助理","content:members:research-assistants:xiuqi-wang.zh-CN.md",{"_path":112,"title":113,"name":114,"role":115,"email":116,"scholar":117,"image":118,"category":119,"order":120,"orcid":121,"_id":122},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Ffuhua-jia","PhD Student, Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering","Fuhua Jia","PhD Student","Fuhua.JIA@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?user=Zz2ccJ4AAAAJ&hl","assets\u002Fjiafuhua.png","research-students","09","0009-0002-6693-9371","content:members:research-students:fuhua-jia.md",{"_path":112,"title":124,"role":125,"_id":126},"博士研究生，机械、材料与制造工程系","博士研究生","content:members:research-students:fuhua-jia.zh-CN.md",{"_path":128,"title":129,"name":130,"role":131,"email":132,"image":133,"category":119,"order":134,"_id":135},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Fhao-wang","Master by Research Student, Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering","Hao Wang","Master by Research Student","hao.wang@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fwanghao.png","12","content:members:research-students:hao-wang.md",{"_path":128,"title":137,"role":138,"_id":139},"科研硕士研究生，机械、材料与制造工程系","科研硕士研究生","content:members:research-students:hao-wang.zh-CN.md",{"_path":141,"title":113,"name":142,"role":115,"email":143,"image":144,"category":119,"order":145,"_id":146},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Fjunlin-xiao","Junlin Xiao","junlin.xiao@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fjunlin-xiao.jpg","10","content:members:research-students:junlin-xiao.md",{"_path":141,"title":124,"role":125,"_id":148},"content:members:research-students:junlin-xiao.zh-CN.md",{"_path":150,"title":113,"name":151,"role":115,"email":152,"image":153,"category":119,"order":154,"_id":155},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Fliming-li","Liming Li","Liming.Li@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fliming-li.jpg","11","content:members:research-students:liming-li.md",{"_path":150,"title":124,"role":125,"_id":157},"content:members:research-students:liming-li.zh-CN.md",{"_path":159,"title":113,"name":160,"role":115,"email":161,"image":162,"category":119,"order":163,"_id":164},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Fmengshen-yang","Mengshen Yang","Mengshen.Yang@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fyangmengshen.png","07","content:members:research-students:mengshen-yang.md",{"_path":159,"title":124,"role":125,"_id":166},"content:members:research-students:mengshen-yang.zh-CN.md",{"_path":168,"title":129,"name":169,"role":131,"email":170,"image":171,"category":119,"order":172,"_id":173},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Fruoxu-xiao","Ruoxu Xiao","ruoxu.Xiao@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fruoxuxiao.jpg","13","content:members:research-students:ruoxu-xiao.md",{"_path":168,"title":137,"role":138,"_id":175},"content:members:research-students:ruoxu-xiao.zh-CN.md",{"_path":177,"title":113,"name":178,"role":115,"email":179,"image":180,"category":119,"order":181,"_id":182},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fresearch-students\u002Ftianyi-chen","Tianyi Chen","Tianyi.Chen@nottingham.edu.cn","assets\u002Fchentianyi.png","08","content:members:research-students:tianyi-chen.md",{"_path":177,"title":124,"role":125,"_id":184},"content:members:research-students:tianyi-chen.zh-CN.md",{"_path":186,"title":187,"name":188,"role":189,"email":190,"scholar":191,"image":192,"category":193,"order":194,"orcid":195,"_id":196},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fstaff\u002Fadam-rushworth","Associate Professor in Materials and Manufacturing, PGCHE","Dr Adam Rushworth","Deputy Director of Control System Lab","Adam.Rushworth@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?user=XvRnzQYAAAAJ&hl","assets\u002Fadam-rushworth.webp","staff","02","0000-0003-3803-7549","content:members:staff:adam-rushworth.md",{"_path":186,"title":198,"role":199,"_id":200},"材料与制造副教授，PGCHE","控制系统实验室副主任","content:members:staff:adam-rushworth.zh-CN.md",{"_path":202,"title":203,"name":204,"role":203,"email":205,"scholar":206,"image":207,"category":193,"order":208,"_id":209},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fstaff\u002Fahmed-abdelwahed","Assistant Professor","Dr Ahmed Nasr Abdelwahed","Ahmed.Abdelwahed@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?hl=zh-CN&user=9cCVF5cAAAAJ","assets\u002Fahmed.webp","06","content:members:staff:ahmed-abdelwahed.md",{"_path":202,"title":211,"role":211,"_id":212},"助理教授","content:members:staff:ahmed-abdelwahed.zh-CN.md",{"_path":214,"title":215,"name":216,"role":217,"email":218,"scholar":219,"image":220,"category":193,"order":221,"orcid":19,"_id":222},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fstaff\u002Fchiew-foong-kwong","Head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering","Dr Chiew Foong Kwong","Associate Professor, Head of Department","Chiew-Foong.Kwong@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?user=DiX0phAAAAAJ&hl=zh-CN&oi=ao","assets\u002Fcf.jpg","03","content:members:staff:chiew-foong-kwong.md",{"_path":214,"title":224,"role":225,"_id":226},"电气与电子工程系系主任","副教授，系主任","content:members:staff:chiew-foong-kwong.zh-CN.md",{"_path":228,"title":229,"name":230,"role":229,"email":231,"scholar":232,"image":233,"category":193,"order":234,"_id":235},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fstaff\u002Fdonglei-sun","Assistant Professor of Aerospace Aerodynamics","Dr Donglei Sun","Donglei.Sun@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?hl=zh-CN&user=C4EmdWMAAAAJ","assets\u002Fdonglei-sun.webp","05","content:members:staff:donglei-sun.md",{"_path":228,"title":237,"role":237,"_id":238},"航空航天空气动力学助理教授","content:members:staff:donglei-sun.zh-CN.md",{"_path":240,"title":229,"name":241,"role":229,"email":242,"scholar":243,"image":244,"category":193,"order":245,"_id":246},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fstaff\u002Frichard-adjei","Dr Richard Amankwa Adjei","Richard-Amankwa.Adjei@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?user=TshunUEAAAAJ&hl=zh-CN&oi=ao","assets\u002Frichard.webp","04","content:members:staff:richard-adjei.md",{"_path":240,"title":237,"role":237,"_id":248},"content:members:staff:richard-adjei.zh-CN.md",{"_path":250,"title":251,"name":252,"role":253,"email":254,"scholar":255,"orcid":256,"image":257,"category":193,"interests":258,"order":269,"_id":270},"\u002Fmembers\u002Fstaff\u002Fsalman-ijaz","Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Control of Aerospace Systems","Dr Salman Ijaz","Director of Control System Lab","salman.ijaz@nottingham.edu.cn","https:\u002F\u002Fscholar.google.com\u002Fcitations?user=77HGe2UAAAAJ&hl","0000-0003-1483-4754","assets\u002Fsalman-ijaz.webp",[259,260,261,262,263,264,265,266,267,268],"Fault tolerant control of aircraft","Linear parameter varying control of nonlinear systems","Fractional order modeling and control of aircraft system","Control allocation Scheme","Integral sliding mode control","Robust control","Aircraft actuation system (dissimilar redundant actuation system)","Aircraft dynamics and control","Unmanned aerial vehicle system","More Electric Aircrafts","01","content:members:staff:salman-ijaz.md",{"_path":250,"title":272,"role":273,"interests":274,"_id":285},"航空航天控制系统助理教授（讲师）","控制系统实验室主任",[275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,283,284],"飞机容错控制","非线性系统线性参数变化控制","飞机系统分数阶建模与控制","控制分配方案","积分滑模控制","鲁棒控制","飞机作动系统（非相似冗余作动系统）","飞机动力学与控制","无人机系统","多电飞机","content:members:staff:salman-ijaz.zh-CN.md",1788056514014]