Quantum Communication at the Lodz University of Technology

09/08/2022 - 10:23

„Życie Uczelni” information bulletin of the TUL

The academic holidays in 2022 allowed for extremely interesting, pioneering work in the field of quantum information at the Lodz University of Technology. At the Department of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Devices of the Faculty of Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Control Engineering, for the first time in Łódź, tests of cryptographic transmissions were carried out using QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) devices.

Written by Mirosław Sopek, PhD, CEO Quantum Blockchains, Inc., Chairman of the University Council of the Lodz University of Technology

"Alice" and "Bob" - a pair of "Armos" Quantum Key Distribution devices

The devices were provided by Quantum Blockchains company from Łódź – the official partner of QNU Labs company from Bangalore, India. QKD class devices allow for the transmission of encryption keys for cryptographic applications in a way that guarantees absolute security of the transmitted data. Security is ensured by the fundamental laws of quantum physics, which make any attempt to intercept the keys immediately detected, so that there is no possibility of "eavesdropping" on them. Along with associated encryption algorithms (one-time-pad cipher), this method implements a perfect cipher – impossible to be broken by any known method.
QKD devices accomplish this by sending quantum objects – single photons via optical fibers.

The results of the work resulted in an interesting report, which confirmed that with QKD devices, the generation of encryption keys and their transmission was at an acceptable level, enabling practical use even for transmission with a range of about 100 km.

The research was carried out by MSc. Mateusz Łakomski and MSc. Przemysław Niedzielski from the team of Dr Grzegorz Tosik, Department of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Devices headed by Professor Zbigniew Lisik.