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Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters

What fundamentally new properties are introduced by special relativity to quantum cryptography in open space?

S. N. Molotkov, D. I. Pomozov

Published Jul 1, 2007• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

A fundamentally new relativistic quantum cryptography protocol has been proposed for key distribution through open space. The protocol guarantees the security of keys at any damping and for a nonstrictly single-photon source of quantum states.
DOI
10.1134/s0021364007090123

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A principally new approach ensuring secure key distribution via an open quantum communication channel is proposed. In contrast to the existing schemes, in which the security is based upon special properties of nonorthogonal states in the Hilbert space, the security of the proposed scheme relies on a spacetime structure of states and on certain constraints imposed by special relativity. Using these factors, it is possible to provide for secure key transmission using practically arbitrary quantum states.
We introduce a new relativistic orthogonal states quantum key distribution protocol which leverages the properties of both quantum mechanics and special relativity to securely encode multiple bits onto the spatio-temporal modes of a single photon. If the protocol is implemented using a single photon source, it can have a key generation rate faster than the repetition rate of the source, enabling faster secure communication than is possible with existing protocols. Further, we provide a proof that the protocol is secure and give a method of implementing the protocol using line-of-sight and fiber optic channels.
We introduce a new relativistic orthogonal states quantum key distribution protocol which leverages the properties of both quantum mechanics and special relativity to securely encode multiple bits onto the spatio-temporal modes of a single photon. If the protocol is implemented using a single photon source, it can have a key generation rate faster than the repetition rate of the source, enabling faster secure communication than is possible with existing protocols. Further, we provide a proof that the protocol is secure and give a method of implementing the protocol using line-of-sight and fiber optic channels.