Three-Basis Loop-Back QKD: A Passive Architecture for Secure and Scalable Quantum Mobile Networks

The Loop-Back Quantum Key Distribution (LB-QKD) protocol establishes a bidirectional architecture in which a single photon travels forth and back through the same optical channel. Unlike conventional one-way schemes such as BB84, Alice performs both state preparation and measurement, while Bob acts as a passive polarization modulator and reflector. This design eliminates detectors at Bob’s side, minimizes synchronization requirements, and enables compact, low-power implementations suitable for quantum-mobile and IoT platforms. An extended three-basis configuration {X,Y,Z} is introduced, preserving the simplicity of the two-basis scheme while improving noise tolerance through enhanced orthogonality-based filtering. Analytical modeling shows that the effective protocol error decreases from Eprotocol(2)=e/2 to Eprotocol(3)=e/3, achieving a 33% improvement in noise resilience. Despite its slightly lower sifting efficiency (η=1/6), the total information gain reaches G=0.26 bits per pulse, maintaining post-sifting throughput comparable to BB84. The protocol doubles the tolerable QBER of conventional QKD, sustaining secure operation up to 22% for two bases and approximately 47.58% for three bases. Its passive, self-verifying architecture enhances resistance to man-in-the-middle, photon-number-splitting, and side-channel attacks, providing a scalable and energy-efficient framework for secure key distribution and authentication in next-generation mobile and distributed quantum networks.