OU Researchers Implement a Multi-photon Approach in Quantum Cryptography

-

NORMAN, Okla.- Move over money, there is a new currency to make the world go round. As increasing volumes of data become accessible, transferable and, therefore, actionable, information is the treasure companies want to amass. To protect this wealth, organizations use cryptography, or coded messages, to secure information from “technology robbers.” This group of hackers and malware creators is increasingly becoming more sophisticated at breaking encrypted information leaving everyone and everything, including national security and global commerce, at risk.

But the threat to information breach may be drastically reduced due to a technology breakthrough that combines quantum mechanics and cryptography.  University of Oklahoma electrical and computer engineering professor Pramode Verma and his colleagues Professor Subhash Kak from Oklahoma State University and Professor Yuhua Chen from the University of Houston have, at the College of Engineering labs, OU-Tulsa, demonstrated a novel technique for cryptography that offers the potential of unconditional security.

 “Unfortunately, all commercial cryptography techniques used today are based on what is known as computational security,” Verma said. “This means that as computing power increases, they are increasingly susceptible to brute force and other attacks based on mathematical principles that can recover information without knowing the key to decode the information.” Cryptography techniques based on quantum mechanics are not susceptible to such attacks under any imaginable condition.
 Professor Subhash Kak postulated in 2006 a theory known as the three-stage protocol. The technique relies on the unpredictability of photons to ensure hackers can’t locate or replicate the information used to transmit information. The first laboratory demonstration of Kak’s concept took place at the College of Engineering labs on the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Campus.  This is an important step toward the wide-spread adoption of Kak’s discovery.  It can lead to a future in which “Basically, no matter how long or how hard they try,” said Verma, “technology robbers can no longer decrypt or hack transmitted information.”

This breakthrough has wide-spread economic and global applications. Quantum cryptography has been used in rare instances, primarily Swiss banks, but is limited by its short transmission distance and slow speed. Verma and his research team’s technology demonstration suggests the potential for breaking those barriers.

 “As we continue to test this promising method of quantum cryptology, we can demonstrate its value and accelerate the adoption in the business world,” Verma said.

The wide spread application of quantum cryptology could someday assure that technology robbers won’t be able to break into the information bank. 

Popular posts from this blog

OU Engineering Students Shine in Community Projects

-
Image
At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the...
Read more

OU Students Take on Habitat Challenge: Sooners Without Borders Constructs Ramp, More in Iowa

-
Image
In early January, six students from Sooners Without Borders at the University of Oklahoma headed to Des Moines, Iowa, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. Their goal: construct an accessibility ramp for a local family. Their mission was part of Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program, providing year-round volunteer opportunities for college students. The students, all from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, embraced the challenge. Formerly Engineers Without Borders, Sooners Without Borders had changed its name to be more inclusive of all majors at OU, says Lisa Morales, the group's staff adviser. “A lot of projects used to focus on clean water and students had the opportunity to travel abroad. Once Covid happened, we had to shift the focus of Sooner Without Borders,” Morales said.  In Des Moines, the project expanded beyond the ramp, involving tasks like installing kitchen cabinets and flooring for a new home. Morales says she was impressed with the student’s adeptness with...
Read more

OU Engineering Welcomes 14 New Faculty Members for 2023-24

-
Image
OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,...
Read more