True image construction in quantum-secured single-pixel imaging under spoofing attack

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a quantum-secured single-pixel imaging technique designed to withstand spoofing attacks, wherein adversaries attempt to deceive imaging systems with fake signals. Unlike previous quantum-secured protocols that impose a threshold error rate limiting their operation, even with the existence of true signals, our approach not only identifies spoofing attacks but also facilitates the reconstruction of a true image. Our method involves the analysis of a specific mode correlation of a photon-pair, which is independent of the mode used for image construction, to check security. Through this analysis, we can identify both the targeted image region of the attack and the type of spoofing attack, enabling reconstruction of the true image. A proof-of-principle demonstration employing the polarization-correlation of a photon-pair is provided, showcasing successful image reconstruction even under the condition of spoofing signals that are 2000 times stronger than true signals. We expect our approach to be applied to quantum-secured signal processing, such as quantum target detection or ranging.