QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION

QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- Experts from DRDO and IIT Delhi have demonstrated Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link for a distance of over 100 kilometres between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh.

Concept-

About Quantum Key Distribution Network:

• QKD is primarily a mechanism to undertake secure communication, which utilises a cryptographic protocol involving various components of quantum mechanics.
  • Cryptography is the study of secure communications techniques that allow only the sender and intended recipient of a message to view its contents.
• The technology enables two communicating sides to come up with random secret keys shared by both of them and known exclusively to them, so only they can use it to encrypt and decrypt messages, thus achieving a very highly-secure communication.
• In the QKD, encryption keys are sent as ‘qubits’ (or quantum bits) in an optical fibre.
  • Optical Fibres works on the principle of total internal Reflections.
• It is designed in a way that if an illegitimate entity tries to read the transmission, it will disturb the qubits – which are encoded on photons.