Engineering topics

Nordholt, Jane Elizabeth

Publications and source records attributed to Nordholt, Jane Elizabeth.

3 records

DOE OSTI2021

Long-haul high rate quantum key distribution

Multiple bit values can be encoded on a single photon in a quantum key distribution (QKD) system using a plurality of sidebands of an optical carrier frequency. Computational and conjugate bases can be defined, and photons decoded based on a selected state from either basis. If n sidebands are available, as many as log2n bits can be encoded on a single photon. Errors in detected bit values due to selection of an incorrect basis state or other errors can be at least partially corrected by bit distillation to identity bit strings for which a transmitter and a receiver record the same values, without insecure transmission of these values.

Nordholt, Jane Elizabeth↗

DOE OSTI2020

Streaming authentication and multi-level security for communications networks using quantum cryptography

Message authenticators for quantum-secured communications facilitate low-latency authentication with assurances of security. Low-latency message authenticators are especially valuable in infrastructure systems where security and latency constraints are difficult to satisfy with conventional non-quantum cryptography. For example, a message transmitter receives a message and derives an authentication tag for the message based at least in part on an authenticator that uses one or more quantum keys. The message transmitter outputs the message and its authentication tag. A message receiver receives a message and authentication tag for the message. The message receiver derives a comparison tag for the message based at least in part on an authenticator that uses one or more quantum keys. The message receiver checks whether the message is authentic based on a comparison of the authentication tag and the comparison tag. In example implementations, the authenticator uses stream-wise cyclic redundancy code operations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Quantum random number generators

Random number generators include a thermal optical source and detector configured to produce random numbers based on quantum-optical intensity fluctuations. An optical flux is detected, and signals proportional to optical intensity and a delayed optical intensity are combined. The combined signals can be electrical signals or optical signals, and the optical source is selected so as to have low coherence over a predetermined range of delay times. Balanced optical detectors can be used to reduce common mode noise, and in some examples, the optical flux is directed to only one of a pair of balanced detectors.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗