Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography (SECOQC) is a project that aims to develop

quantum cryptography Quantum cryptography is the science of exploiting quantum mechanical properties to perform cryptographic tasks. The best known example of quantum cryptography is quantum key distribution which offers an information-theoretically secure solutio ...

(see there for further details). The

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been ...

decided in 2004 to invest 11 million

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in the project as a way of circumventing

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attempts by

ECHELON ECHELON, originally a secret government code name, is a surveillance program ( signals intelligence/SIGINT collection and analysis network) operated by the five signatory states to the UKUSA Security Agreement:Given the 5 dialects that ...

Christian Monyk Christian Monyk is the head of the quantum cryptography business unit of ARC Seibersdorf research GmbH. In addition, he is the overall coordinator of Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryp ...

, the coordinator of SECOQC, said people and organizations in

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, the

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, the

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Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establishe ...

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, Sweden, and Switzerland would participate in the project. On October 8, 2008 SECOQC was launched in Vienna.

Limitations of classical quantum cryptography

Quantum cryptography Quantum cryptography is the science of exploiting quantum mechanical properties to perform cryptographic tasks. The best known example of quantum cryptography is quantum key distribution which offers an information-theoretically secure solutio ...

, usually known as

quantum key distribution Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method which implements a cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum mechanics. It enables two parties to produce a shared random secret key known only to them, which can then ...

(QKD) provides powerful security. But it has some limitations. Following no-cloning theorem, QKD only can provide one-to-one connections. So the number of links will increase

N(N-1)/2

N

represents the number of nodes. If a node wants to participate into the QKD network, it will cause some issues like constructing quantum communication line. To overcome these issues, SECOQC was started.

Brief architecture of SECOQC network

SECOQC network architecture can be divided into two parts: trusted private networks and quantum networks connected via QBBs (quantum backbones). The private networks are conventional networks with end-nodes and a QBB. Each QBB enables quantum channel communication with another QBB and consists of a number of QKD devices that are connected with other QKD devices over one-to-one connections. From this, SECOQC can provide easier registration of new end-nodes in a QKD network, and quick recovery from threats on quantum channel links.

References

* Andreas Poppe, Momtchil Peev, Oliver Maurhart, "Outline of the SECOQC Quantum-Key-Distribution Network in Vienna", Apr 2008, International Journal of Quantum Information * Peev M., Pacher C., Alleaume, R., Happe A., Lorunser T., Poppe A., Themel T., Zeilinger A, "The SECOQC quantum key distribution network in Vienna", July 2009, New Journal of Physics, Volume 11 * Dianati, M. Alleaume, R., "Transport Layer Protocols for the Secoqc Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Network, Local Computer Networks", 2007. LCN 2007. 32nd IEEE Conference on

External links

E.U. seeks quantum cryptography response to Echelon

ITworld International Data Group (IDG, Inc.) is a market intelligence and demand generation company focused on the technology industry. IDG, Inc.’s mission is centered around supporting the technology industry through research, data, marketing technol ...

Cryptography organizations {{crypto-stub

Limitations of classical quantum cryptography

Brief architecture of SECOQC network

See also

References

External links