Quantum Communication And Security

"Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Quantum Communication and Security, Gdansk, Poland, 10-13 September 2006."--T.p. verso.

This book explores alternative ways of accomplishing secure information transfer with incoherent multi-photon pulses in contrast to conventional Quantum Key Distribution techniques. Most of the techniques presented in this book do not need conventional encryption. Furthermore, the book presents a technique whereby any symmetric key can be securely transferred using the polarization channel of an optical fiber for conventional data encryption. The work presented in this book has largely been practically realized, albeit in a laboratory environment, to offer proof of concept rather than building a rugged instrument that can withstand the rigors of a commercial environment.

All current methods of secure communication such as public-key cryptography can eventually be broken by faster computing. At the interface of physics and computer science lies a powerful solution for secure communications: quantum cryptography. Because eavesdropping changes the physical nature of the information, users in a quantum exchange can easily detect eavesdroppers. This allows for totally secure random key distribution, a central requirement for use of the one-time pad. Since the one-time pad is theoretically proven to be undecipherable, quantum cryptography is the key to perfect secrecy. Quantum Communications and Cryptography is the first comprehensive review of the past, present, and potential developments in this dynamic field. Leading expert contributors from around the world discuss the scientific foundations, experimental and theoretical developments, and cutting-edge technical and engineering advances in quantum communications and cryptography. The book describes the engineering principles and practical implementations in a real-world metropolitan network as well as physical principles and experimental results of such technologies as entanglement swapping and quantum teleportation. It also offers the first detailed treatment of quantum information processing with continuous variables. Technologies include both free-space and fiber-based communications systems along with the necessary protocols and information processing approaches. Bridging the gap between physics and engineering, Quantum Communications and Cryptography supplies a springboard for further developments and breakthroughs in this rapidly growing area.

The shortcomings of modern cryptography and its weaknesses against computers that are becoming more powerful necessitate serious consideration of more robust security options. Quantum cryptography is sound, and its practical implementations are becoming more mature. Many applications can use quantum cryptography as a backbone, including key distribution, secure direct communications, large prime factorization, e-commerce, e-governance, quantum internet, and more. For this reason, quantum cryptography is gaining interest and importance among computer and security professionals. Quantum Cryptography and the Future of Cyber Security is an essential scholarly resource that provides the latest research and advancements in cryptography and cyber security through quantum applications. Highlighting a wide range of topics such as e-commerce, machine learning, and privacy, this book is ideal for security analysts, systems engineers, software security engineers, data scientists, vulnerability analysts, professionals, academicians, researchers, security professionals, policymakers, and students.

This textbook integrates the most advanced topics of physical-layer security, cryptography, covert/stealth communications, quantum key distribution (QKD), and cyber security to tackle complex security issues. After introducing the reader to various concepts and practices, the author addresses how these can work together to target problems, rather than treating them as separate disciplines. This book offers students an in-depth exposition on: cryptography, information-theoretic approach to cryptography, physical-layer security, covert/stealth/low-probability of detection communications, quantum information theory, QKD, and cyber security; to mention few. The goal is to provide a unified description of the most advanced topics related to: (i) modern cryptography, (ii) physical-layer security, (iii) QKD, (iv) covert communications, and (v) cyber security. Each chapter is followed by a set of problems. Also, for readers to better understand the book, an appendix covers all needed background. Homework problems and lecture notes are available online. The book does not require any prior knowledge or prerequisite material.

The book provides an overview of the most advanced quantum informational geometric techniques, which can help quantum communication theorists analyze quantum channels, such as security or additivity properties. Each section addresses an area of major research of quantum information theory and quantum communication networks. The authors present the fundamental theoretical results of quantum information theory, while also presenting the details of advanced quantum ccommunication protocols with clear mathematical and information theoretical background. This book bridges the gap between quantum physics, quantum information theory, and practical engineering.

QUANTUMCOMM 2009––the International Conference on Quantum Communi- tion and Quantum Networking (from satellite to nanoscale)––took place in Vico Equense near Naples, Italy, during October 26–30, 2009. The conference made a significant step toward stimulating direct dialogue between the communities of quantum physics and quantum information researchers who work with photons, atoms, and electrons in pursuit of the common goal of investigating and utilizing the transfer of physical information between quantum systems. This meeting brought together experts in quantum communication, quantum inf- mation processing, quantum nanoscale physics, quantum photonics, and networking. In the light of traditional approaches to quantum information processing, quantum communication mainly deals with encoding and securely distributing quantum states of light in optical fiber or in free space in order to provide the technical means for quantum cryptography applications. Exciting advances in the area of quantum c- munication over the last decade have made the metropolitan quantum network a re- ity. Several papers presented at this meeting have demonstrated that quantum crypt- raphy is approaching the point of becoming a high-tech application rather than a - search subject. The natural distance limitation of quantum cryptography has been significantly augmented using ideas of global quantum communication with stab- orbit satellites. The results presented at this conference demonstrated that practical secure satellite communication is clearly within reach.

Rising concerns about the security of our data have made quantum cryptography a very active research field in recent years. Quantum cryptographic protocols promise everlasting security by exploiting distinctive quantum properties of nature. The most extensively implemented protocol is quantum key distribution (QKD), which enables secure communication between two users. The aim of this book is to introduce the reader to state-of-the-art QKD and illustrate its recent multi-user generalization: quantum conference key agreement. With its pedagogical approach that doesn’t disdain going into details, the book enables the reader to join in cutting-edge research on quantum cryptography.