One of the greatest threats to our digital world is the vulnerability of electronic communication to security risks and loopholes. Hackers constantly develop new ways to steal our identities, financial resources, and private data.
Cryptography allows for the secure exchange of information over long distances by protecting it from unauthorized access. Most modern cryptographic methods are based on well-known mathematical problems such as factorization, which are difficult for classical supercomputers to solve. The possibility of future quantum computers that are tolerant to errors and noise requires us to reconsider how we secure our information systems.
In general, quantum communication involves:
Encoding and transmitting messages using various configurations of subatomic particles and their physical parameters. In a full quantum communication setup, we transmit qubits instead of classical bits. Currently, this type of communication methods utilize the transmission of photons and their encoded quantum states.
Such an approach, based on the concept of quantum communication, introduces new possibilities for communication and enables the transmission of qubits between elements of quantum computing infrastructure, allowing such systems to scale.
The implementation of quantum communication
Requires, among other things, the development of efficient methods for generating entangled photon pairs and distributing them over long distances, which in turn necessitates the development of so-called quantum repeaters.
A key component of such a repeater is the so-called quantum memory. Quantum communication offers many potential applications, but one of the main and earliest proposed uses is secure data transmission. By exploiting the principles of quantum mechanics, it is possible to ensure the integrity and security of transmitted information. One of the proposed methods for achieving this is so-called quantum key distribution.
The main purpose of QKD is to establish a shared secret key between two parties that is perfectly secure. In its simplest form, one party sends qubits prepared in specific quantum states to the other party, which then observes or measures them. An eavesdropper attempting to intercept the transmission must also measure the qubits, which inevitably leaves a detectable disturbance. This follows from the principles of quantum mechanics, which state that it is impossible
to measure a quantum state without disturbing it. QKD technology is used to secure information transmitted over computer networks over increasingly long distances. Within the PIONIER scientific network, a QKD connection spanning over 380 km between Poznań and Warsaw was successfully established and secured in May 2022.
- quantum ciphers (e.g. Vernam cipher)
- cryptographic protocols (e.g. BB-84)