Quantum Cryptography Group 7 Justin Jones Ashley Robinett

Quantum Cryptography Group 7 Justin Jones Ashley Robinett Jonathan Bull

Quantum Cryptography § Key Words § Classical Cryptography § Quantum Physics § Photons § Eavesdropping § Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle

Quantum Cryptography § Classical Cryptography- uses mathematical techniques to restrict eavesdroppers § Quantum Cryptography- uses quantum physics to restrict eavesdroppers § Quantum Physics- the branch of physics that deals with atomic and subatomic particles and the energy of atoms

Quantum Cryptography § Photon- one of the elementary particles whose interactions with electrons and atomic nuclei account for the features of matter § Eavesdropping- the intercepting of conversations by unintended recipients § Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle- tells us that merely observing a quantum object alters it

Quantum Cryptography § What It Is § Developed by Stephen Weisner in the early 1970’s § In 1991, the first prototype was made operable only over a distance of 32 centimeters § (February 2006) Hoi-Kwong Lo’s study describes the first experimental proof of a quantum decoy technique to encrypt data over a fiber optic cable

Quantum Cryptography § Varies the intensity of photons and introduces “photonic decoys” § Photons carry complex encryption keys through fiber optic cables § Afterwards, a second broadcast tells the receiving computer which photons carried the signal and which ones were decoys

Quantum Cryptography § If a hacker tries to eavesdrop on the data stream to try and figure out the encryption key, the mere act of eavesdropping changes the decoys- which tells the computer that the data has been tampered with

Quantum Cryptography § Benefits § Allows the transmission of sensitive information (banking records, personal info, etc. ) § Allows more security for online banking § Can be implemented now because the experiment was done with a commercial device

Quantum Cryptography § Benefits § Increases the distance that information can sent up to 100 km § Confuses hackers and eavesdroppers § Merely looking electronically at the photon keys will automatically change their shape and render them useless in unlocking the information § Both sender and receiver can know if someone is eavesdropping or not