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Fiber-Optic Quantum Seal For Safeguards.

Junji Urayama

Published Nov 6, 2023• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We report new results on our development of the fiber-optic quantum seal (FOQS) which will provide high-sensitivity tamper detection capabilities at nuclear facilities to enhance safeguards verification efforts.Long-term verification of critical assets in storage facilities for containment and surveillance must provide material accountancy with continuity of knowledge.As a part of this effort, FOQC will enhance current practices by making use of quantum optical probes to enable fiber-channel integrity checks and sensor data authentication.FOQS consists of an interferometric quantum transceiver which transmits randomly encoded packets of photons over an optical fiber loop used to seal a container.These photon packets return to the receiver to be decoded for field quadrature information.Comparisons of the transmit and receive signals allow for the characterization of the channel.If the comparison shows high degree of correlation, channel integrity and authentication are deemed true, while a lack of correlation triggers an intrusion alarm.The key advantage of the FOQS is that the quantum probes are governed by the uncertainty principle which prevents the intruder from attacking the channel without leaving a trace.We present new results obtained in years two and three of this project, including improvements in the experimental system, automated numerical analysis of obtained experimental data, and extended theoretical analysis of the FOQS sensitivity under realistic conditions.These capabilities increase seal sensitivity and enables detection of data falsification attacks.SNL is managed and operated by NTESS under DOE NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.SAND2022-XXXX C.

Related papers

Fiber-Optic Quantum Seal.

Junji Urayama

We report on our development of the fiber-optic quantum seal (FOQS) which will provide highsensitivity detection capabilities for tamper events at bulk storage facilities to enhance safeguards verification efforts.Long-term verification of critical assets in storage facilities for the containment and surveillance mission area must provide material accountancy with assurance of security and continuity of knowledge.As a part of this effort, future monitoring systems may incorporate networked sensors to perform status checks on individual or collection of containers.FOQC enhances current practices by making use of quantum optical probes to enable channel integrity checks and sensor data authentication.Encoded light pulses in the fiber channels will monitor for intrusions while decoding of these pulses will provide data authentication.FOQS consists of an interferometric quantum transceiver which transmits randomly encoded packets of photons over a fiber loop used to seal a container.These photon packets return to the receiver to be decoded for amplitude and phase information.Comparisons of the transmit and receive signals allow for the characterization of the channel.If the comparison shows high degree of correlation, channel integrity and authentication are deemed true, while a lack of correlation triggers an intrusion alarm.The key advantage that FOQS has is that the quantum probes are governed by the uncertainty principle which prevents the intruder from attacking the channel without leaving a trace.This trace will be used to detect the attack attempt.Experimental work will be discussed for the seal development, and theoretical analysis for enhanced security will be presented in the hypothesis-test framework.

•Nov 3, 2023•0 citations

Tamper-Indicating Quantum Seal

Brian P. Williams, Keith A. Britt, Travis S. Humble

Verifying the integrity of a tamper-indicating seal is crucial in surveillance and containment technologies, as an intruder may try to hide a breach. Seals based on the no-cloning principle of quantum mechanics offer an unprecedented level of security. By monitoring the entanglement of transmitted photon pairs, the authors detect intrusion attempts with 99.99% probability, and just a 10${}^{-9}$ chance for a false alarm. In contrast, any conventional optical system would fail this test completely.

arXiv:1508.05334•Physical Review Applied•Jan 4, 2016•31 citations

Quantum security for the physical layer

Travis S. Humble

The physical layer describes how communication signals are encoded and transmitted across a channel. Physical security often requires either restricting access to the channel or performing periodic manual inspections. In this tutorial, we describe how the field of quantum communication offers new techniques for securing the physical layer. We describe the use of quantum seals as a unique way to test the integrity and authenticity of a communication channel and to provide security for the physical layer. We present the theoretical and physical underpinnings of quantum seals including the quantum optical encoding used at the transmitter and the test for non-locality used at the receiver. We describe how the envisioned quantum physical sublayer senses tampering and how coordination with higher protocol layers allows quantum seals to influence secure routing or tailor data management methods. We conclude by discussing challenges in the development of quantum seals, the overlap with existing quantum key distribution cryptographic services, and the relevance of a quantum physical sublayer to the future of communication security.

arXiv:1407.4509•IEEE Communications Magazine•Aug 1, 2013•40 citations

MODELING OF FIBER-OPTIC COMMUNICATION CHANNEL FOR QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS

Vladimir Alexandrovich Minaev, I. D. Korolev, Кулиш Ольга Александровна +1 more

The existing methods of information delivery to the strategic and tactical management of many government agencies are expensive, not always reliable and efficient. Therefore, quantum cryptographic systems (QCS) have been actively developed in recent years. However, there are problems with the use of the QCS associated with the reliability of information transfer. First, the existing fiber-optic communication channels (FOCC) are not designed to transmit single-photon signals, which leads to the complexity of their cryptographic protection. The second is insufficiently methodically developed calculation of energy losses and errors in the evaluation of the characteristics of information transfer in FOCC QCS. In article the analysis of the energy loss factors in the classical fiber-optic channel is carried out and the additive loss formula is discussed in detail. Then we consider the fiber-optic channel of quantum information transmission with the use of integrated optical devices. The additive formula of optical losses in such a channel is discussed. The features of losses in integrated optical devices are shown. The features of quantum cryptographic system of information transmission are considered. As a result, the model of FOCC QCS taking into account energy losses is presented, which allows competently in theoretical terms and visualize the passage of information through modern quantum cryptographically secure telecommunications while providing control in government structures.

Issues of radio electronics•May 10, 2019•0 citations

Quantum technology in critical infrastructure protection

M. Karol, M. Życzkowski

Finding effective ways of critical infrastructure object protection requires more recent and more sophisticated security systems. Particularly important security aspects are information protection and perimeter security. Development of a new quantum technology, both in quantum computing and quantum cryptography, gives the necessary technology needed to build single photon optic fiber systems. The authors would like to present concepts of using single photon interferometers to protect infrastructure facilities which, in particular, take into account optical fiber transmission lines. The conducted analysis of what is available on market systems and the expected single photon sensor’s properties in terms of security and information show a drop in detection. We also compared the degree of systems ’ complexities in terms of system security and difficulties associated with devices ’ construction and installation in transmission lines. The paper presents the main principles of single-photon interference, the operation and construction of single photon systems in the detection and generation of single photons for the purpose of commercial systems. The concept will be described as perimeter protection and the protection of a transmission line by a single photon sensor. The authors discuss the proposed construction and operation of the proposed fiber optic single photon interferometer as a protection sensor. They also try to bring the possibility of using the sensor in areas other than the protection of transmission lines and compare the predicted properties of single photon sensor currently implemented solutions in the field of fiber optic sensors for perimeter protection.

WIT transactions on the built environment•Mar 30, 2015•3 citations

Tamper-Indicating Quantum Optical Seals

Travis S. Humble, D. Duncan Earl, Brian P. Williams

Abstract—We demonstrate a quantum optical seal using en-tangled photons to monitor the integrity of a fiber-optic channel subject to tampering. This application of quantum photonics provides a basis for physical layer security in cyber-physical systems. I.

•Jan 11, 2016•0 citations
We report new results on our development of the fiber-optic quantum seal (FOQS) which will provide high-sensitivity tamper detection capabilities at nuclear facilities to enhance safeguards verification efforts.Long-term verification of critical assets in storage facilities for containment and surveillance must provide material accountancy with continuity of knowledge.As a part of this effort, FOQC will enhance current practices by making use of quantum optical probes to enable fiber-channel integrity checks and sensor data authentication.FOQS consists of an interferometric quantum transceiver which transmits randomly encoded packets of photons over an optical fiber loop used to seal a container.These photon packets return to the receiver to be decoded for field quadrature information.Comparisons of the transmit and receive signals allow for the characterization of the channel.If the comparison shows high degree of correlation, channel integrity and authentication are deemed true, while a lack of correlation triggers an intrusion alarm.The key advantage of the FOQS is that the quantum probes are governed by the uncertainty principle which prevents the intruder from attacking the channel without leaving a trace.We present new results obtained in years two and three of this project, including improvements in the experimental system, automated numerical analysis of obtained experimental data, and extended theoretical analysis of the FOQS sensitivity under realistic conditions.These capabilities increase seal sensitivity and enables detection of data falsification attacks.SNL is managed and operated by NTESS under DOE NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.SAND2022-XXXX C.
We report on our development of the fiber-optic quantum seal (FOQS) which will provide highsensitivity detection capabilities for tamper events at bulk storage facilities to enhance safeguards verification efforts.Long-term verification of critical assets in storage facilities for the containment and surveillance mission area must provide material accountancy with assurance of security and continuity of knowledge.As a part of this effort, future monitoring systems may incorporate networked sensors to perform status checks on individual or collection of containers.FOQC enhances current practices by making use of quantum optical probes to enable channel integrity checks and sensor data authentication.Encoded light pulses in the fiber channels will monitor for intrusions while decoding of these pulses will provide data authentication.FOQS consists of an interferometric quantum transceiver which transmits randomly encoded packets of photons over a fiber loop used to seal a container.These photon packets return to the receiver to be decoded for amplitude and phase information.Comparisons of the transmit and receive signals allow for the characterization of the channel.If the comparison shows high degree of correlation, channel integrity and authentication are deemed true, while a lack of correlation triggers an intrusion alarm.The key advantage that FOQS has is that the quantum probes are governed by the uncertainty principle which prevents the intruder from attacking the channel without leaving a trace.This trace will be used to detect the attack attempt.Experimental work will be discussed for the seal development, and theoretical analysis for enhanced security will be presented in the hypothesis-test framework.
Verifying the integrity of a tamper-indicating seal is crucial in surveillance and containment technologies, as an intruder may try to hide a breach. Seals based on the no-cloning principle of quantum mechanics offer an unprecedented level of security. By monitoring the entanglement of transmitted photon pairs, the authors detect intrusion attempts with 99.99% probability, and just a 10−9{}^{-9}−9 chance for a false alarm. In contrast, any conventional optical system would fail this test completely.
The physical layer describes how communication signals are encoded and transmitted across a channel. Physical security often requires either restricting access to the channel or performing periodic manual inspections. In this tutorial, we describe how the field of quantum communication offers new techniques for securing the physical layer. We describe the use of quantum seals as a unique way to test the integrity and authenticity of a communication channel and to provide security for the physical layer. We present the theoretical and physical underpinnings of quantum seals including the quantum optical encoding used at the transmitter and the test for non-locality used at the receiver. We describe how the envisioned quantum physical sublayer senses tampering and how coordination with higher protocol layers allows quantum seals to influence secure routing or tailor data management methods. We conclude by discussing challenges in the development of quantum seals, the overlap with existing quantum key distribution cryptographic services, and the relevance of a quantum physical sublayer to the future of communication security.
The existing methods of information delivery to the strategic and tactical management of many government agencies are expensive, not always reliable and efficient. Therefore, quantum cryptographic systems (QCS) have been actively developed in recent years. However, there are problems with the use of the QCS associated with the reliability of information transfer. First, the existing fiber-optic communication channels (FOCC) are not designed to transmit single-photon signals, which leads to the complexity of their cryptographic protection. The second is insufficiently methodically developed calculation of energy losses and errors in the evaluation of the characteristics of information transfer in FOCC QCS. In article the analysis of the energy loss factors in the classical fiber-optic channel is carried out and the additive loss formula is discussed in detail. Then we consider the fiber-optic channel of quantum information transmission with the use of integrated optical devices. The additive formula of optical losses in such a channel is discussed. The features of losses in integrated optical devices are shown. The features of quantum cryptographic system of information transmission are considered. As a result, the model of FOCC QCS taking into account energy losses is presented, which allows competently in theoretical terms and visualize the passage of information through modern quantum cryptographically secure telecommunications while providing control in government structures.
Finding effective ways of critical infrastructure object protection requires more recent and more sophisticated security systems. Particularly important security aspects are information protection and perimeter security. Development of a new quantum technology, both in quantum computing and quantum cryptography, gives the necessary technology needed to build single photon optic fiber systems. The authors would like to present concepts of using single photon interferometers to protect infrastructure facilities which, in particular, take into account optical fiber transmission lines. The conducted analysis of what is available on market systems and the expected single photon sensor’s properties in terms of security and information show a drop in detection. We also compared the degree of systems ’ complexities in terms of system security and difficulties associated with devices ’ construction and installation in transmission lines. The paper presents the main principles of single-photon interference, the operation and construction of single photon systems in the detection and generation of single photons for the purpose of commercial systems. The concept will be described as perimeter protection and the protection of a transmission line by a single photon sensor. The authors discuss the proposed construction and operation of the proposed fiber optic single photon interferometer as a protection sensor. They also try to bring the possibility of using the sensor in areas other than the protection of transmission lines and compare the predicted properties of single photon sensor currently implemented solutions in the field of fiber optic sensors for perimeter protection.