The energy-time entanglement technology for quantum encryption studied here is based on testing the connection at the same time as the encryption key is created. Two photons are sent out at exactly the same time in different directions. At both ends of the connection is an interferometer where a small phase shift is added. This provides the interference that is used to compare similarities in the data from the two stations. If the photon stream is being eavesdropped there will be noise, and this can be revealed using a theorem from quantum mechanics – Bell’s inequality.
On the other hand if the connection is secure and free from noise, you can use the remaining data, or photons, as an encryption key to protect your message.
What the LiU researchers Jan-Åke Larsson and his doctoral student Jonathan Jogenfors have revealed about energy-time entanglement is that if the photon source is replaced with a traditional light source, an eavesdropper can identify the key, the code string. Consequently they can also read the message without detection. The security test, which is based on Bell’s inequality, does not react – even though an attack is underway.
Physicists at Stockholm University have subsequently been able to demonstrate in practical experiments that it is perfectly possible to replace the light source and thus also eavesdrop on the message.
But this problem can also be solved.
“In the article we propose a number of countermeasures, from simple technical solutions to rebuilding the entire machine,” said Jonathan Jogenfors.
Source: Swedish researchers reveal security hole
Robin Edgar
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