Quantum authentication framework for digital twin–driven satellite networks
Abstract
The integration of digital twin technology into large-scale Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations introduces critical security challenges, particularly under emerging quantum threats. This paper proposes a quantum-assisted multi-layer authentication framework for satellite–digital twin communication that combines entanglement-based verification with hardware-rooted identity using Quantum Physical Unclonable Functions (QPUFs). The protocol employs Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) pair-based key establishment and decoy-state mechanisms to detect entangle-and-measure (EMA) and intercept-and-resend (IRA) attacks, where the induced disturbance attains 0.25 per decoy qubit under a maximally informative attack. The probability of undetected attacks decreases exponentially as (3/4)u , rapidly approaching zero for moderate decoy lengths. Cabello’s qubit efficiency of the scheme is derived as β = k/(6n + 2u) . Experimental validation using Qiskit simulation confirms entanglement correlation preservation across mutually unbiased bases and demonstrates QPUF response uniformity of 0.588, a stabilized majority-based reliability of 100% under noiseless simulation, and a response uniqueness of 0.508. The results establish the feasibility of integrating quantum authentication and hardware-root security within digital twin–assisted satellite networks.
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BibTeX
@article{rana2026quantum,
title = {{Quantum authentication framework for digital twin–driven satellite networks}},
author = {Aryan Rana and Palak Bhangalia and Vivekananda Bhat K and Pankaj Kumar},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-74126-x},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-74126-x},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Quantum authentication framework for digital twin–driven satellite networks
AU - Aryan Rana
AU - Palak Bhangalia
AU - Vivekananda Bhat K
AU - Pankaj Kumar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-74126-x
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-74126-x
AB - The integration of digital twin technology into large-scale Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations introduces critical security challenges, particularly under emerging quantum threats. This paper proposes a quantum-assisted multi-layer authentication framework for satellite–digital twin communication that combines entanglement-based verification with hardware-rooted identity using Quantum Physical Unclonable Functions (QPUFs). The protocol employs Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) pair-based key establishment and decoy-state mechanisms to detect entangle-and-measure (EMA) and intercept-and-resend (IRA) attacks, where the induced disturbance attains 0.25 per decoy qubit under a maximally informative attack. The probability of undetected attacks decreases exponentially as (3/4)^u , rapidly approaching zero for moderate decoy lengths. Cabello’s qubit efficiency of the scheme is derived as β = k/(6n + 2u) . Experimental validation using Qiskit simulation confirms entanglement correlation preservation across mutually unbiased bases and demonstrates QPUF response uniformity of 0.588, a stabilized majority-based reliability of 100% under noiseless simulation, and a response uniqueness of 0.508. The results establish the feasibility of integrating quantum authentication and hardware-root security within digital twin–assisted satellite networks.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -