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Air Force Institute of Technology

2016

Quantum key distribution

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Full-Text Articles in Information Security

Quantum Key Distribution: Boon Or Bust, Logan O. Mailloux, Douglas D. Hodson, Michael R. Grimaila, Colin V. Mclaughlin, Gerald B. Baumgartner Jul 2016

Quantum Key Distribution: Boon Or Bust, Logan O. Mailloux, Douglas D. Hodson, Michael R. Grimaila, Colin V. Mclaughlin, Gerald B. Baumgartner

Faculty Publications

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an emerging cybersecurity technology which provides the means for two geographically separated parties to grow “unconditionally secure” symmetric cryptographic keying material. Unlike traditional key distribution techniques, the security of QKD rests on the laws of quantum mechanics and not computational complexity. This unique aspect of QKD is due to the fact that any unauthorized eavesdropping on the key distribution channel necessarily introduces detectable errors (Gisin, Ribordy, Tittel, & Zbinden, 2002). This attribute makes QKD desirable for high-security environments such as banking, government, and military applications. However, QKD is a nascent technology where implementation non-idealities can …


Pointing Analysis And Design Drivers For Low Earth Orbit Satellite Quantum Key Distribution, Jeremiah A. Specht Mar 2016

Pointing Analysis And Design Drivers For Low Earth Orbit Satellite Quantum Key Distribution, Jeremiah A. Specht

Theses and Dissertations

The world relies on encryption to perform critical and sensitive tasks every day. If quantum computing matures, the capability to decode keys and decrypt messages becomes possible. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a method of distributing secure cryptographic keys which relies on the laws of quantum mechanics. Current implementations of QKD use fiber-based channels which limit the number of users and the distance between users. Satellite-based QKD using free-space channels is proposed as a feasible secure global communication solution. Since a free-space link does not use a waveguide, pointing a transmitter to receiver is required to ensure signal arrival. In …