A New Secure Quantum Key Expansion Scheme

A new quantum key expansion scheme is proposed. The protocol of quantum key expansion proposed by Hwang is analyzed and the eavesdropping scheme is presented. We found that the using of the basis sequence shared by communicating parties is the weakness of the protocol. Hence we propose a 'purification attack' for the eavesdropper to steal partial information of the raw key and the new key between communicating parties. In view of this defect, we propose a new protocol of quantum key expansion, where the shared key is encrypted into a sequence of unitary operators which can be used securely against the presented attack.