Broadband Quantum Cryptography

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Introduction

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 1-3

3. Elements of Classical Cryptography

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 5-13

4. The Quantum Mechanics of Photons

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 15-28

5. Fundamentals of Quantum Key Distribution

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 29-38

6. Information Theory and Key Reconciliation

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 39-43

7. Components for Broadband QKD

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 45-62

8. A Survey of QKD Implementations

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 63-71

9. Conclusion - QKD in the Marketplace

   • Daniel J. Rogers

   Pages 73-76

10. Back Matter

    Pages 77-83

    PDF

Quantum cryptography is a rapidly developing field that draws from a number of disciplines, from quantum optics to information theory to electrical engineering. By combining some fundamental quantum mechanical principles of single photons with various aspects of information theory, quantum cryptography represents a fundamental shift in the basis for security from numerical complexity to the fundamental physical nature of the communications channel. As such, it promises the holy grail of data security: theoretically unbreakable encryption. Of course, implementing quantum cryptography in real broadband communications systems poses some unique challenges, including generating single photons, distilling random keys from the quantum key distribution process, and maintaining security at both the theoretical and practical level. Overall, quantum cryptography has a place in the history of secret keeping as a novel and potentially useful paradigm shift in the approach to broadband data encryption. Table of Contents: Introduction / Elements of Classical Cryptography / The Quantum Mechanics of Photons / Fundamentals of Quantum Key Distribution / Information Theory and Key Reconciliation / Components for Broadband QKD / A Survey of QKD Implementations / Conclusion - QKD in the Marketplace

• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, USA

  Daniel J. Rogers

Dr. Daniel J. Rogers is a staff scientist in the Applied Information Sciences Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Prior to joining APL, Dr. Rogers worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology developing technologies for broadband quantum key distribution. He holds a Doctorate in Chemical Physics from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Georgetown University.

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