By Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterA team of researchers at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) yesterday unveiled a new cryptographic technique using quantum technology, saying that they have used it to transmit an encrypted message outside of a laboratory setting. The researchers used pulsed laser light to produce photons — the smallest measurable unit of light — on which they encoded binary code, he said. The technique, which is based on a theory of differential phase shift quantum key distribution introduced by Stanford University researchers in 2002, frustrates any hacker’s attempt to steal the code, Chuu said. While the US, China and other countries have conducted similar experiments at various distances, the NTHU team is the first in Taiwan to transmit encrypted keys using quantum communication in a real-world environment, Chuu said. The team next plans to experiment using the technique to transmit encrypted keys up to 10km to the Industrial Technology Research Institute, he said.

Source: Taipei Times November 26, 2019 15:56 UTC