Thanks to their enormous power, quantum computers could soon overthrow the most modern methods of data encryption. To avoid this, researchers at the University of Geneva have developed a new sensor with unprecedented performance for what is known as quantum encryption.
In quantum encryption, photons, the smallest particles of light, are sent as keys, according to a statement from the University of Geneva (Unige) on Monday. This method is considered very safe. According to the laws of quantum mechanics, a measurement affects the state of the system being measured. So if a spy tries to measure the photons to steal the key, the information is immediately altered and the interception is revealed.
The large-scale application of quantum cryptography currently falls short due to the performance of the single photon sensors used. A team from Unige and its spin-off ID Quantique have now succeeded in increasing their speed by a factor of 20, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Photonics.
Record-breaking performance
The scientists achieved the record-breaking detection rate by installing not one, but fourteen nanowires in their sensors.
Using these sensors, the scientists succeeded in generating a secret key with a data rate of 64 megabits per second over 10 km of fiber optics. This data rate is high enough to secure a video conference with several participants, for example. That’s five times what current technology can do over that distance.
In addition, the new detectors are no more complicated to manufacture than the devices currently available on the market. According to the researchers, these results open new perspectives for secure data transmission, which is crucial for banks and the healthcare sector, as well as for governments and the military. (saw/sda)
Source: Watson
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
