Abstract: In order to solve the problem of low embedding capacity of the existing quantum image stegography schemes based on LSB ( Least Significant Bit), a novel color image quantum stegography scheme based on reflected Gray code rule is proposed. The secret information is scrambled first, and then it is divided into 6-bit segments. Finally, the first 3 bits are embedded in the second LSB of the RGB channel of the cover image, and the remaining 3 bits are embedded in the LSB of the RGB channel of the cover image using reflected-Gray code rules. According to the embedding rules, the difference between the embedded secret bit and the LSB of the stego-image is almost as high as 50% , which further guarantees the security of embedded information. Extracting is the inverse process of embedding. A quantum circuit for related operations is designed. The simulation results on the classical computer show that the embedding capacity of this scheme is as high as 6 bits per pixel, which is superior to the existing scheme in terms of embedding capacity, and has higher security. Therefore, it is feasible to implement the research scheme of quantum steganography by using Gray code rule.

Key words: quantum information processing; , quantum image steganography; , gray code; , least-significant-bit; , embedding capacity