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Physics World

Quantum cryptography takes to the air

Edwin Cartlidge

Published Feb 1, 2005• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Completely secure communication across the globe could soon become a reality, thanks to mechanics. Groups of physicists in China and Europe have sent entangled photons distances of several kilometres through the atmosphere. The results show that it should be possible to use quantum crytography to encode messages sent from satellites.
DOI
10.1088/2058-7058/18/2/14

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The field of quantum information technology is becoming more exciting by the day, with new research continually pushing forward the boundaries of what is possible with quantum techniques. In practical terms the most advanced area of research is quantum cryptography, where quantum "keys" are used to safeguard information more effectively than is possible with existing cryptographic codes. In the latest advance, researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have transmitted a quantum key a kilometre through the atmosphere, and suggest that the technique could be extended to achieve secure communications between the Earth and low-orbiting satellites (W T Buttler et al. 1998 Phs. Rev. Lett. 81 3283).
Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed on orbit for encrypting the uplinked command path and downlinked data path; or to distribute keys between widely-separated ground stations with a satellite relay, enabling encrypted communications over even inter-continental distances. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.
Researchers in Europe in the field of quantum cryptography have demonstrated for the first time that it should be possible? with the help of satellites? to communicate across thousands of kilometers using unbreakable codes whose security is guaranteed by the laws of quantum physics. For many business or government uses, the codes must be usable between cities and continents, but quantum cryptography machines today are limited to about 150 kilometers by the length of individual optical fibers and the loss of photons within them.
Quantum cryptography is a relatively new but promising method for secure data transmission. Today it is believed that it can ensure the absolute secrecy of data, resulting from the principles of quantum physics, on which it is based, namely the uncertainty principle of quantum Heisenberg. According to this principle cannot measure any aspect of photons without distorting thus irrevocably different option. That is the recipient of a message knows when attempting invasion in this necessarily knows.To create a quantum communication channel often use fiber optic lines or open space in which carriers serve single photons or pairs of entangled photons are often used.Three tasks facing cryptography are:1. Ensuring the confidentiality of messages sent via open communication channels.2. Authentication messages that confirm the validity of the information received and sent.3. Installing intrusion in fact, if it took place.Given the importance of information security, quantum cryptography technology will soon be available not only banks or large corporations but also individuals. Leading IT companies are in search of optimum circuit solutions that would produce industrial equipment for the transmission of confidential information available for mass use. The main obstacles for implementation of quantum cryptography methods are short distances, which can transmit information with modern facilities, high cost and cumbersome equipment. To solve these problems prompted the idea of creating a hybrid air-fiber system using satellite communications is proposed. The use of artificial satellites for the transmission of photons through the air opens the possibility of secret key clients in any part of the Earth and even beyond.It is also appropriate to review the possibility of using existing telecommunication and electrical networks for the transmission of quantum keys. The ideas p presented in the paper, open new space for scientific experiments.
Cryptography has had a long and distinguished history of military and diplomatic use dating back to the ancient Greeks. But secure communications are becoming increasingly important for commercial applications as well. In 1986, for instance, a satellite television broadcast in the US was interrupted by a message from a hacker known as “Captain Midnight”. The incident highlighted how easy it was for an unauthorized party to gain control of a satellite system, and sparked a massive criminal investigation. It also motivated researchers to find new ways of ensuring that messages transmitted to and from satellites remain secret.