“Distribution of quantum keys resistant to side-channel attacks on detectors” was the thesis presented by  Pablo González, Master’s in Physical Sciences. The researcher, who was guided by Professor Wallon Tadaiesky, is expecting a response concerning the publication of his work in the coming weeks.

Gonzalez, a researcher in the Optics and Quantum Information division, who now is pursuing a doctorate in Physical Sciences with Dr. Gustavo Lima as supervisor, explained that, “by distributing quantum keys (Quantum Key Distribution, QKD), we seek to establish a key for secure communication, due to attacks that attempt to extract information in these systems. The ‘side channels’ are a type of attack that seeks to explore leaks from the implementation of the communication protocol.”

“The difference with other known quantum cryptography protocols, like diQKD and mdiQKD, is that in my work the secure key rate has two orders of magnitude more than the other two protocols, and at a comparable distance,” he said. Concerning a future implementation of their work, he noted that “it is very important to be able to implement it in optical fibers, to make it something tangible, a true quantum key distribution protocol, something that can be developed in conjunction with the laboratory of optoelectronics at CEFOP.”

International collaboration

Dr. Marcos Curty, of the University of Vigo in Spain, contributed directly with the thesis of Pablo González. “After the stage of implementation and measurement of the quantum key protocol, he performed the theoretical description and estimates of the security rating that I showed, so that the work would have greater impact,” he said. Paul also received the support of Drs. Aldo Delgado, Guilherme Xavier, Gustavo Lima and Lorena Rebón, an Argentinian researcher, and Esteban Sepúlveda, who was in charge of data graphics.

Cryptography is the discipline that studies algorithms and protocols for systems that are used to provide security to communication between two or more entities, in relation to an external process agent. Banking transactions and other communications that need security, such as the military, currently apply Cryptography. Today, this discipline is combined with the postulates of quantum mechanics, in order to protect quantum communications systems against possible security breaches.

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