Quantum Computation/Cryptography at Los Alamos

Faustine a3495 at cotse.com
Thu Aug 23 15:17:33 PDT 2001


Los Alamos develops quantum crypto system
By Chappell Brown 
Electrical Engineering Times
(08/23/01, 1:06 p.m. EST) 


LOS ALAMOS, N.M.  Engineers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have 
developed what they believe is a practical quantum cryptographic system. 
The system features two portable units that can encrypt and decrypt 
information transmitted via photons. Experiments have shown that encryption 
keys can be sent via free-space transmission at distances of up to 6 miles. 
The system could be used to ensure safe communications between satellites.

Quantum cryptography uses the fundamental law of quantum mechanics: Any 
observation of a system changes its state. Since photons are elementary 
particles, they are subject to the law. If a third party attempts to "tune 
in" to the encrypted transmission, the quantum state of the photons will 
change, allowing the eavesdropping to be detected. 


Quantum Computation/Cryptography at Los Alamos homepage

http://qso.lanl.gov/qc/





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