QKD: It bore fruit n cooperation of the British centreυ investigations 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 τεχνολογία που αναμένεται να βελτιώσει θεαματικά την ασφάλεια των τηλεπικοινωνιών.
The QKD method uses τις αρχές της κβαντικής φυσικής υποσχόμενη πως οποιαδήποτε προσπάθεια υποκλοπής του μεταδιδόμενου μηνύματος θα προκαλέσει μία παραμόρφωση που θα ανιχνεύεται από τους χρήστες, η οποία με τη σειρά της θα ακυρώνει τη συνέχιση της ανταλλαγής της πληροφορίας.
Encrypted communication is based on the idea that the message is encoded by a key known only to the users of that channel. The quantum key has the advantage of being in an intermediate state called a superposition state. Any interaction of the key with the outside world will result in the collapse of the quantum state and the immediate sending of a new key through the same channel. Frequent switching of keys can guarantee absolutely secure telecommunications, which is a prerequisite for most of the internet 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.
