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Free-space communications

Quantum space race heats up

Nature Photonics volume 11, pages 456–458 (2017)Cite this article

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The realization of satellite-to-ground quantum cryptography would make quantum-secured communications possible on a global scale. Four recent breakthroughs suggest that this compelling capability could be achieved by the end of this decade.

Secure communications, which are essential for modern society to function, are made possible by cryptography. The security of cryptography in turn rests on the distribution of unpredictable random numbers to the communicating parties — generically referred to as Alice and Bob. Sequences of those random numbers, each typically 256 bits long, are used by Alice and Bob as cryptographic keys for the encryption of sensitive communications. For communication to be secure the keys must be kept secret from any eavesdropper — conventionally referred to as Eve.

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Figure 1: Satellite-to-ground quantum communications are opening the door to new secure communications techniques.

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  1. Whitewood Security, Boston, 02110, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard J. Hughes & Jane E. Nordholt

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  1. Richard J. Hughes
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  2. Jane E. Nordholt
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Correspondence to Richard J. Hughes or Jane E. Nordholt.

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Hughes, R., Nordholt, J. Quantum space race heats up. Nature Photon 11, 456–458 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2017.124

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