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Continuous Variable Quantum Encryption using Short Laser Pulses

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9550-05-C-0106
Agency Tracking Number: F054-007-0365
Amount: $99,967.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF05-T007
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-08-18
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-05-18
Small Business Information
1801 Maple Avenue, Rm 6322
Evanston, IL 60201
United States
DUNS: 133619234
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gregory Kanter
 Vice President, Product Development
 (847) 491-5713
 kanterg@nucrypt.net
Business Contact
 Prem Kumar
Title: Manager/CEO
Phone: (847) 275-8996
Email: kumarp@nucrypt.net
Research Institution
 NORTHWESTERN UNIV.
 Susan G Ross
 
633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208-1110
United States

 (847) 491-3003
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The use of optical technology in both terrestrial and space-based wireless links has compelling advantages in terms of data rate, power consumption, weight, and size of the system. However, with the adoption of such technology, we have become heavily reliant on high data rate optical communication systems for our economy and national security. It is thus prudent to give careful consideration to the reliability, robustness to attack, and security of such data transmissions. Recently, a new method to protect the secrecy of optical transmissions against unauthorized eavesdropping has been proposed and demonstrated. This method, called AlphaEta, uses the quantum noise inherent in the light to create a highly secure physical layer encryption system which performs comparably, in terms of metrics such as ultimate propagation distance and sensitivity, to a conventional (unencrypted) system. We propose to augment an AlphaEta-like system by using a short pulse source to add the capability for spectral phase encoding and pulse-position modulation. These new properties can substantially increase the security of encryption, the sensitivity of the link, and the ability of such systems to be used for key generation.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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