Network-Centric Quantum Communications

Ming-Xing Luo

Richard Hughes, J. E. Nordholt, Kevin P. McCabe +3 more

Network-centric quantum communications (NQC) - a new, scalable instantiation of quantum cryptography providing key management with forward security for lightweight encryption, authentication and digital signatures in optical networks – is briefly described.

Richard Hughes, J. E. Nordholt, Kevin P. McCabe +3 more

Network-centric quantum communications (NQC) - a new, scalable instantiation of quantum cryptography providing key management with forward security for lightweight encryption, authentication and digital signatures in optical networks - is briefly described. Results from a multi-node experimental test-bed utilizing integrated photonics quantum communications components, known as QKarDs, include: quantum identification; verifiable quantum secret sharing; multi-party authenticated key establishment, including group keying; and single-fiber quantum-secured communications that can be applied as a security retrofit/upgrade to existing optical fiber installations. A demonstration that NQC meets the challenging simultaneous latency and security requirements of electric grid control communications, which cannot be met without compromises using conventional cryptography, is described.

Alexander V. Sergienko, Villoresi, Paolo, Saverio Pascazio

Sunil Prajapat, Seong Oun Hwang, Pankaj Kumar +1 more

The integration of consumer-centric digital twin (CCDT) technology is set to transform healthcare systems, enabling blockchain-based solutions for enhanced medical services. By precisely simulating patients and medical processes, CCDT establish a link to the virtual healthcare environment, supporting improved diagnosis, real-time monitoring, and predictive analytics. Blockchain technology is critical in connecting the physical and virtual health care worlds, providing secure storage, efficient communication, reduced computational costs, and reliable hosting services. However, the security of patient data and its digital twin counterpart stored on the blockchain remains a potential vulnerability, as any alteration or unauthorized access to this information could pose significant risks. To address this challenge, we propose a blockchain-enabled quantum encryption protocol for CCDT healthcare networks to ensure secure communication. The proposed protocol leverages blockchain to authenticate patients without relying on third-party entities. At the same time, a secure quantum encryption mechanism ensures that CCDT do not need to authenticate repeatedly when interacting with multiple healthcare providers. A performance evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed scheme compared to existing encryption methods. The results indicate that the suggested protocol is resilient against various security threats, showcasing its significant potential for enhancing communication security within CCDT healthcare networks.

Riccardo Bassoli, Holger Boche, Christian Deppe +4 more