QKD: Απέδωσε καρπούς η συνεργασία του βρετανικού κέντρου ερευνών NPL με τις εταιρίες Toshiba, BT και ADVA στον τομέα των κβαντικών τηλεπικοινωνιών καθώς ανακοινώθηκε η πρώτη επιτυχής δοκιμή μεταφοράς δεδομένων με κβαντικό κλειδί (Quantum Key Distribution) μέσω μίας οπτικής ίνας, μία technology which is expected to dramatically improve telecommunications security.
The QKD method uses the principles of quantum physics, promising that any attempt to intercept the transmitted message will cause a user-distorted distortion, which in turn will invalidate the continuation of the information exchange.
Encrypted communication is based on the idea that the message it is encoded based on a key known only to the users of that channel. The quantum key has the advantage of being in an intermediate state called the superposition state. Any interaction of the key with the outside world will result in the quantum state collapsing and a new key being immediately sent over the same channel. Frequent key exchange can even guarantee completely secure telecommunications, which is a prerequisite for most online transactions.
"The system QKD works by sending individual photons in pulses along the optical fiber. We have developed ways to detect individual particles and therefore to continuously certify system security, thus overcoming one of the biggest problems in the market that is the lack of reliability, "explains Alaskan Sinclair on behalf of NPL.
In this test, the originality lies in sending the information and the key through the same fiber as opposed to earlier achievements in which two or even three different channels were needed for the same purpose.
This development opens the way for using this technology in practical applications such as banking or personal communications.
