Quantum Key Distribution

High-Speed quantum key distribution (QKD) System

Posted June 12th, 2007 by G Kontos

NIST quantum key distribution converter - 2007

Product Name:

NIST QKD

Development Group:

National Institute for Standards and Technology

General Info:

Scientists at the National Institute for Standards and Technology published an article about their new prototype Quantum Key Distribution system. The new system is able to send quantum keys for encryption over 10 km through one fiber optic wire. This new system is capable of sending the 'one-time pad' encryption, which is theoretically unbreakable.

This NIST QKD system works using an 'up-converting' single photons for better detection. This means that they are increasing the wavelength of a photon from 1310 nm to 710 nm so that each individual photon can be detected by a low-noise detector, in this case a silicon-based avalanche photo diode (Si-APD).

Up-Conversion QKD research
Article from PhysOrg

Quantum Key Distribution Tests

Posted December 31st, 2006 by G Kontos

Current Events | Quantum Computing | Quantum Key Distribution

Scientists in Boulder, CO have sent a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) signal across 107 km. of fiber optic cable. This is the first long distance demonstration of this technology. Theoretically QKD encodes a single photon with a security key. However, in practice it has proven difficult to encode a single photon. If multiple photons are encoded a photon-number-splitting (PNS) attack by an eavesdropper is possible. The difficulty of encoding one photon was overcome by using a decoy-state protocol.

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