EQCSPOT: European quantum cryptography and single photon optical technologies

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 98.0144

Key words (English)

quantum cryptography; photon counting

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 28139

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.3 Telematic systems

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

DERA, Malvern (UK); University of Innsbruch (A); University of Oxford (UK); Elsag Spa, Genova (I)

Abstract (English)

Quantum cryptography is, to date, the only physically secure secret-key distribution protocol. It takes advantage of the possibility of measuring the information encoded in a photon along different, incompatible bases. The presence of an eavesdropper would unavoidably perturb the system, and become manifest to the sender and the receiver.
Quantum cryptography is the first quantum information protocol that has been brought to practical realisation according to several schemes, not only in our group but with researchers as well. In this project some groups concentrate on free space quantum cryptography, whilst others on telecom optical fibres. At Geneva University we developed all the know-how for the realisation of a fibre-based prototype, including a Quantum Random number Generator (QRNG) and photon counting at telecom wavelengths.
In the fall of 2001 this development gave birth to a spin-off company, id Quantique (http://www.idQuantique.com), which commercialises our QRNG, photon counters and quantum cryptography device.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 98.0144