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Quantum cryptography, also known as quantum key distribution (QKD), is an emerging new technology that harnesses the peculiar laws of quantum mechanics to securely transmit keys used to encrypt and decrypt digital communications. By leveraging the principles of quantum theory like entanglement and uncertainty, QKD promises information-theoretic security that is not compromised by future advances in computing power. In this article, we will discuss the basics of quantum cryptography, review its advantages over classical cryptography, and explore its potential applications and impact on our digital world.
How does Quantum Cryptography Work?
At the heart of Quantum cryptography is the encoding of cryptographic keys onto quantum states like photon polarizations. These quantum states have a uniquely quantum mechanical property that their value cannot be measured or copied without introducing detectable disturbances.
In a quantum cryptography system, Alice (the sender) prepares individual photons in one of two polarization states, say horizontal or vertical, that represent the binary digits 0 and 1. She then transmits these polarized photons through an optical fiber or free space to Bob (the receiver). Since measuring a quantum state unavoidably disturbs it, any eavesdropping by Eve in between will leave behind tell-tale errors in the polarization states that Alice and Bob can detect.
After receiving the photons, Bob randomly chooses to measure them either in the rectilinear basis (horizontal/vertical) or in the diagonal basis (+45°/-45°). By comparing a random subset of measurement results through an authenticated classical channel, Alice and Bob can statistically verify that no eavesdropping was present beyond an acceptable channel error rate. The key generated can now be used with a one-time pad cipher to encrypt subsequent communications with perfect secrecy.
Advantages over Classical Cryptography
Compared to classical cryptographic techniques based on computational assumptions, quantum cryptography provides information-theoretic security that does not rely on unproven computational assumptions. Even with unlimited computing power, an eavesdropper cannot gain any information about the key without introducing errors that will be detected.
Additionally, quantum cryptography is perfectly forward secure. If an eavesdropper intercepts and stores the quantum communications for later decryption, measuring the quantum states will unavoidably introduce detectable disturbances proving their tampering. With classical encryption, stored communications may become compromised if new algorithms are developed that can break the original cipher in retrospect.
Perhaps the most powerful advantage is that quantum cryptography gets even more secure over time and distance. As technology improves to produce quantum states with lower error rates and build fiber optic or satellite links with higher transmissions, Alice and Bob can detect eavesdropping with increasing confidence. In contrast, classical ciphers tend to weaken as computing power grows.
Applications and Commercialization
Commercial quantum key distribution systems are available today providing point-to-point security over installed fiber links spanning dozens of kilometers. Vendors include ID Quantique, QuintessenceLabs, and Quantum XChange who have demonstrated the viability of QKD for protecting sensitive networked communications in banks, government agencies, and metro fiber backbones.
Satellite-based QKD networks are also being actively developed as part of quantum-safe global communication networks of the future. The Chinese Micius satellite demonstrated key exchange over record distances of over 1,200 km from the satellite to stations on Earth in 2017. Similar satellite programs are underway in Europe and through NASA to deploy laser-based inter-satellite QKD links in low Earth orbit for a globally-interconnected quantum Internet in the coming decade.
For end-users, quantum cryptography promises click-and-drag security for video conferences, online banking, and other digital transactions without computational assumptions. Most exciting is the prospect of information-theoretic protection for emerging technologies with long-term security needs like encryption of genomic databanks, cryptocurrencies, and superconducting quantum computers. Quantum cryptography holds the potential to future-proof security against attacks from quantum computers and unforeseen algorithmic breakthroughs.
Conclusion
In summary,Quantum cryptographyrepresents a paradigm shift from computational security guarantees to protection unconditionally rooted in the laws of physics. By leveraging uniquely quantum mechanical phenomena, it offers resilience against all threats including an adversary with unlimited computational power. While challenges remain in scaling the technology for global applications, the promises of quantum key distribution for upgraded information security are undeniably profound. Over the next decade, quantum cryptography is poised to revolutionize secure communication and safeguard digital assets far into the future.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
