Threshold secret sharing scheme of quantum images based on least significant bit theory

An (r, n) threshold secret sharing scheme for quantum images based on the least significant bit (LSB) theory is proposed in this paper. First of all, we embed the quantum secret image into four different quantum carrier images by using LSB theory to form four embedded images, which has no visual difference from the original carrier images. Then, we adjust the pixels of the embedded carrier images in a range of [0,250], so as to obtain the adjusted images. Finally, we use r - 1 degree Lagrange polynomials to divide the four adjusted images into groups of shadow images, which are safely transmitted to the four groups of participants. Each group has n participants. Any r(r = n) participants are together in each group, both the secret image and the four carrier images can be recovered. The experimental results show that our scheme not only has good recovery quality, but also has high security and can resist external attack. In addition, our scheme does not involve any encryption steps, which greatly reduces the computational complexity. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.