Quantum Technology Tested in Russia Capable of Encrypting Data with Unbreakable Keys

At the ICQT 2023 scientific conference, which launched the Forum of Future Technologies "Computing and Communication 'Quantum World'," they talked about quantum technology capable of encrypting data with unbreakable keys.

Russian scientists, together with their Chinese colleagues, conducted an experiment on the distribution of a quantum cryptographic key using the Chinese Micius satellite between two ground receiving stations. The Russian station was located on the territory of the Zvenigorod Observatory of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow region), and the receiving station was in the Nanshan district (China).

During the experiment, the total amount of key received at the receiving station was 570 Kbit, and the session duration was 217 s. The parties exchanged monochrome encrypted images with a size of 256 x 64 pixels. The one-time pad method was used for transmission, with the key length equal to the length of the transmitted message.

Scientists believe that communication channels encrypted using the quantum key distribution method will guarantee the protection of information from compromise and unauthorized access.

The Forum of Future Technologies is the main platform for discussing trends in the development of new technologies in Russia. Open days of the Forum with a plenary session and specialized discussions will be held on July 13 and 14. The operator of the Forum is the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Co-organizers: Russian Railways and the State Corporation Rosatom.