Quantum Key Distribution: practical aspects - Salem Hegazy - World Quantum Day in Egypt 2023
Channel: Alexandria Quantum Computing Group
Date: 2023-04-23

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Quantum Key Distribution: practical aspects
Abstract:

Quantum Information and Quantum Computation are newborn sciences that benefit from the quantum-mechanical nature to launch the next huge revolution of information and communications technology (ICT). In quantum information and quantum computation, elementary quantum systems like photons and subatomic systems are used to build fascinating quantum devices and protocols superior to its traditional counterparts. On that scale, instead of the binarized classical information unit (the bit), quantum mechanics offers another more featured unit; the quantum bit (qubit), that supports coherent superposition (and interference) and can thereby take infinite number of values and process unlimited number of operations.

In this talk, we will address how qubits can be used to offer unconditional security to the transfer of a secret key between distant users in quantum key distribution (QKD). This unconditional security relies on laws of quantum physics, which dictate that any attempt by an adversary to know about the secret key, would inevitably introduce disturbance that alerts the legitimate users. In practice, however, real-life components of QKD systems may deviate from the idealized theoretical models, which offers effective vulnerabilities to the adversary.

We will refer to the BB84 protocol –the first and most famous QKD protocol presented by Bennett and Brassard in 1984. We will discuss two known loopholes in practical QKD systems, which stimulate several practical attacks on both source and detection sides. We will then present countermeasures introduced to overcome these vulnerabilities.

Bio
Salem F. Hegazy received the B.Sc. (Hons.), Diploma, and M.Sc. degrees in electronics and communications engineering from Cairo University in 2002, 2006, and 2011, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in quantum optics and nonlinear optics under a joint- supervision scheme between CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, and the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, in 2017. He has been Assistant Professor with the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University, and also Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Photonics and Smart Materials, Zewail City of Science and Technology. His research interests include optical quantum-information and quantum-computation processing, practical security of quantum cryptography, photonic entanglement, optical communications, and optical chaos-based systems. He was the recipient of the Egyptian State Encouragement Award in Engineering Sciences in 2019 presented to distinguished scholars under 40 years.