Abstract
We develop an entanglement verification method not based on Bell inequalities, that achieves a higher reliability per number of qubits tested than existing procedures of this kind. Used in a quantum cryptographic context, the method gives rise to a new protocol for distributing classical keys through insecure quantum channels. The cost of quantum and classical communication is significantly reduced in the new protocol, while its security is increased with respect to other entanglement-based protocols exchanging the same number of qubits. To achieve this performance, our scheme relies on a simple quantum circuit and the ability to store qubits.